Nurse in the Spotlight

My profession as a registered school nurse in Houston ISD has given me the opportunity to advocate, not only for my students and school community, but also for all school nurses. My experience in advocacy includes testimony in front of the Texas Legislative Senate Education Committee on behalf of students with disabilities, as well as testimony at a Texas Education Agency hearing on behalf of school nurses seeking credit for year-for-year past employment experience.

Our School Nurse Task Force with Houston Federation of Teachers requested the hearing and was successful in overturning a TEA decision to eliminate past employment experience for all school nurses in the state of Texas.

I have also developed an outreach program within my school and have established communication and collaboration with community resources within our school neighborhood. It is my opinion that a pro-active stance, as well as active participation in professional organizations, is necessary to maintain the integrity of any field, especially health professions.

Summer 2003

Starla Reichek Houston, Texas	My profession as a registered school nurse in Houston ISD has given me the opportunity to advocate, not only for my students and school community, but also for all school nurses. My experience in advocacy includes testimony in front of the Texas Legislative Senate Education Committee on behalf of students with disabilities, as well as testimony at a Texas Education Agency hearing on behalf of school nurses seeking credit for year-for-year past employment experience. Our School Nurse Task Force with Houston Federation of Teachers requested the hearing and was successful in overturning a TEA decision to eliminate past employment experience for all school nurses in the state of Texas. I have also developed an outreach program within my school and have established communication and collaboration with community resources within our school neighborhood. It is my opinion that a pro-active stance, as well as active participation in professional organizations, is necessary to maintain the integrity of any field, especially health professions.

Summer 2003