LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Sue Rockers was nominated by one of her colleagues.

"Sue is a LifeChanger in so many ways! I have had the benefit of knowing Sue for a number of years, and I consider myself lucky to have the opportunity to learn from Sue on an ongoing basis.  Sue has always been a wealth of knowledge around all things school nursing. Her expertise and value cannot be overstated, even for a veteran school nurse like me," said her colleague. 

Ms. Rockers is thoughtful, smart, articulate, and incredibly compassionate and empathetic when working with students, staff, and families.  She has an amazing way of making families feel heard and understood, despite having crucial conversations that are not easy amidst a global pandemic.

"I often say to her that only she could tell families the bad news of yet another quarantine and do it in a way where parents walked away from the conversation having even more respect and adoration for her," said her colleague.

Additionally, Ms. Rockers has been a phenomenal mentor for new nurses in the district.  Not only does she help them learn the “Minnetonka way,” but she continues to guide, support, and empower nurses who are quite knowledgeable in their previous careers, but are new to school nursing.  The beauty and strength in Ms. Rockers' gift is that she doesn’t “step up” to help others. Instead, she steps back and meets each and every one of them exactly where they’re at and walks the journey with them, helping to bridge the gaps of their knowledge. She guides them into being competent and skilled school nurses, ready to take on all of the challenges that the position brings.

"I cannot overstate what an incredible asset she has been, not only for school nursing, but also for Minnetonka Public Schools," said her colleague. 

Ms. Rockers' willingness to always go above and beyond to support her colleagues is beyond comparison, yet she does it with a smile, resounding laughter, and a “we can do this!” attitude. Her enthusiasm is contagious and helps to energize those around her.  She brings an intellectual curiosity to work and uses it to problem solve and determine or strategize about new ways of doing things.

Ms. Rockers has always been a collaborator. She knows that for school nurses to be effective, they need to partner with everyone (including parents) to create meaningful change. She is also well-respected by her peers. You always feel seen, valued, and heard after interacting with her, which is truly a gift.

"Again, I can think of no one worthier of this award. Sue makes a difference in the lives and families of students on a regular basis as an amazing LifeChanger," said her colleague.