Streamwood High School nurse Mary Girardi has been named the 2015 State School Nurse of the Year by the Illinois Association of School Nurses.

The Illinois Association of School Nurses has named Streamwood High School nurse Mary Girardi as the 2015 State School Nurse of the Year.

“School nurses are definitely among the dedicated unsung heroes in our school system,” said U­ 46 School District CEO Tony Sanders. “They provide great healthcare services to students, ensure they’re educated about self care, respond to emergencies and more often, prevent them.”

Girardi was honored at the Oakbrook DoubleTree as part of the association’s 58th annual conference.

She loves working with children and their families. Before becoming a certified school nurse, she worked in various settings in the specialties of pediatrics and obstetrics.

“It appealed to me to want to work with children and families with special needs in their more typical environments,” Girardi said. ”It was the best decision I ever made.”

Girardi has been a certified nurse for 16 years, working at Hillcrest, Creekside, Century Oaks, Horizon, Spring Trail and Elementary Schools as well as Tefft Middle School and several other elementary and middle schools in the district.

This is her first year working in a high school.

“High school students are in the process of getting comfortable with the person they are becoming,” said Girardi. “They’re interested in learning more about caring for themselves, developing healthy living skills, and learning more about health conditions.”

At U-46, school nurses help administer health assessments, health care programs and evaluate health initiatives. Across the 53 schools in School District U-46, there are 60 registered nurses who complete daily service tasks and 18 certified school nurses who provide education for student healthcare needs.

“The care, support, and knowledge she provides to the students of U-46 is beyond compare,” said Health Services Supervisor Jeffrey Judge. “I am proud and very grateful to have Mary representing the health services department.”

The IASN selected nurses from various division levels across the state to compete for the title. A series of essays, work samples and examples of practice were submitted as part of the application process. The applications were reviewed by administrators, a counselor and a clinical nurse.

The IASN will also be giving Girardi an achievement award for helping the organization earn the necessary credentials to offer professional development and continuing education units, saving members time and money.

— Streamwood’s Girardi named state’s top school nurse by peers  —