Did you know that our state only provides the HSD with funding for 1/3 of a nurse for all three of its schools? This is where levy funding comes in, making it possible for the HSD to have the equivalent of three full-time nurses at its three schools. But even at that staffing level, it's still a big job. For instance, Nurse Kat Young serves over 900 elementary students every day! With almost two years at HHES, Young, pictured right, relies on her prior nursing experiences at schools and a hospital, where she continues to pick up shifts.
Young shared that the HSD’s commitment to student health and safety drew her to this position, highlighting district safety coordination and the elementary school’s team-oriented and interdepartmental approach to finding the best way to support students. She understands that student health is a team effort that not only involves nurses and school leaders; it involves parents and students as well. In fact, for Young, the best part of being a school nurse is building relationships with students, equipping them with knowledge, and witnessing their growth as they overcome challenges. “Whenever a student comes into the Health Room I want them to feel safe and cared for,” she said. Young also enjoys promoting healthy lifestyles and encouraging students to develop healthy habits.
Kat is described as a dynamic presence in the HHES Health Room. “She jumped right in, created fun opportunities for the students, arranged programs that are above and beyond, worked to improve the safety procedures and so much more, all while managing a large and extremely busy health room”, said Molly Scott, who is the ESD 112 nurse coordinator and oversees our Nurse Corp team. “She is reliable, kind, intelligent, creative, funny, and such an asset to the HSD.”
Scott also noted that Young handles high-stress situations with confidence and places an emphasis on building trusting relationships with HHES families. Aside from working at HHES, Young is also a nurse for another small ESD program, works relief at the hospital, and is attending college. According to Scott, “She is basically Superwoman!”
HHES families are fortunate to have Kat in this important role. Similarly, the HSD is fortunate to have the community levy support, which enables our schools to support the health needs of Hockinson’s 1,970 students. This four-year levy not only means that each school has a dedicated nurse, it means that the HSD is able to provide teachers, athletics and the arts, extracurricular activities, classroom support staff, special education, and more beyond what the state provides to meet the needs of our students and school communities.
Pictured left to right: Kat Young, Molly Scott (works Thursdays at HHS and serves as an ESD 112 nurse coordinator during the rest of the week), Shawn Cass (HMS), and Shing Burkhart (HHS)
