Vol. 40, No. 44
CONTACT: JIM MORRIS |
October 24, 2006
Kennett School Nurse Earns National Honor
Deborah S. Cook, health services coordinator for the Kennett School District, has received the 2006 Outstanding School Nurse Award from the American School Health Association. She was honored earlier this month during ASHA’s national conference in St. Louis.
Twelve years ago, Ms. Cook was the only school nurse in the 2,000-student Kennett School District. She wrote a competitive grant, based on the coordinated school health model, which allowed the district to greatly expand health education activities and services. She also has served the district as an instructor for health occupations and EMT classes.
She completed her associate of science in nursing at Arkansas State University and is currently working to complete her bachelor of science in nursing degree at Southeast Missouri State University.
Ms. Cook attributes the success of Kennett’s health services program to her active school health advisory committee and strong community involvement.
Ms. Cook advises the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services on issues relating to health and health services in rural schools. She is past president of the Missouri Association of School Nurses and currently serves as vice-chair of the Missouri Coordinated School Health Coalition. Gov. Matt Blunt recently appointed her to a new, statewide Suicide Prevention Task Force.