LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Melanie Doll was nominated by her principal, Amy Henley.

Ms. Doll, affectionately known as "Nurse Doll," truly embodies the image of her name. During the pandemic, many schools nervously awaited guidance, support, and innovation to protect the precious lives of students and staff on campus. Fortunately, Sherwood Forest did not have that experience due to the loving and knowledgeable nature of Nurse Doll.

Nurse Doll researched tirelessly to provide reassurance, guidance, and support to Sherwood before local and city leaders developed guidelines for K-12 schools. Mrs. Doll presented information to leaders and teachers during professional development sessions to help create a sense of unity and empowerment to combat COVID-19 on campus. Working with her is like working with the comfort of a loving family member. You know you are safe, cared for, and in good hands. 

Under the guidance of Nurse Doll, Sherwood has successfully maintained one of the lowest close contact transmission rates in the city of New Orleans. This low transmission rate of COVID-19 has only been made possible through the willingness and dedication to stay on top of it. Ms. Doll has worked towards forming partnerships with organizations to bring weekly testing to her district and advertise opportunities for immunizations to staff, students, and families alike. This care for the community is what makes a difference in the daily lives of everyone nestled in the New Orleans East school network.

For the past eight years, Nurse Doll served as head nurse in her school district, working alongside other school nurses to promote a fun and healthy culture on every campus. Workout challenges, walking challenges, and weight loss competitions are a few of the creative and inspiring initiatives she spearheaded. Many may believe that the heart of a school lies in its leadership, and they may be right to an extent, but without a school nurse dedicated to students and staff, no school can function to its full potential.

"In the simplest of terms, the catalyst that keeps Sherwood Forest running is none other than the leader that is our very own Nurse Melanie Doll. Whether she's ensuring that every student sanitizes and washes their hands properly, or that every student receives the warmest greeting by name as they enter each morning; the love expressed by our school nurse is unmatched. That is why Nurse Melanie Doll deserves to be the LifeChanger of the Year," said Henley.