As a way for you, our website visitors, families, and friends, to get to know us at The Camphill School, we will be profiling a member of our staff on the third Thursday of the month.

I have a close relationship to The Camphill School, having lived and grown up in Camphill for much of my life. After graduating from university with a degree in nursing, I spread my wings to gain experience in different areas of nursing from a center for traumatic brain injury, to a large Ob/Gyn practice, to an agency that serves children and youth with developmental disabilities. When an opportunity arose for me to work as a nurse in the Camphill School ten years ago, I was excited to return in this new capacity.

What is your favorite thing about working at the school?

I would say that besides feeling very attached to the place and the community of all those who live and work here, calling it my home, I feel a deep devotion to the kids and young adults who either live here or come in daily to join us at school or the transition program. I’ve known a handful of students since they were little and it’s been an absolute joy to have the privilege of caring for their medical needs but to also witness them transform into very special young adults.

What is a memorable event/moment that means a lot to you?

It’s hard to pick one moment because there are so many small moments. I’m amazed each year when I watch the students perform in music or drama with such focus and tender courage, when it may seem that they are distracted or confused. It is so easy for people to overlook how closely each student is mirroring what is taught or shared, whether it be a lesson in the classroom or a hug to calm. If we are patient and kind, we provide the greatest lesson and that is a willingness to transcend disability. It is in these lessons that I realize that I am a pupil of a very special education, one focused on respect, humility, compassion, creativity and flexibility with every encounter.

What do you hope for the upcoming school year?

Like every other child, students with developmental disabilities are likely to visit the nurse’s office with bumps and bruises, headaches and colds and other ailments. As a nurse, I am at the forefront of providing this care, ensuring that the needs of our students are met while preserving their dignity and promoting their well-being. Regardless of a student’s level of needs, the nurse’s office should be a safe and supportive place. This year I’m keen to create some communication tools unique to a nurse visit, such as working together with our speech therapists to create a visual pain scale for pain severity and a body chart to point to the location of pain. This would enhance the level of engagement and honor self-determination.