LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Dana Kendrick was nominated by her colleague, Gaie Perez.

"Dana Kendrick is one of the most gentle, caring staff members in the front office. She not only has the responsibility to tend to students' health needs, but she is so compassionate and caring.  She takes her time with each student that enters the health room, showing each of them the same amount of patience, whether they are in for a scraped knee, routine medication, or they're having a bad day and need someone to listen. Dana's not only super amazing at being our school nurse, but she's also willing to jump in and help in the front office whenever she can.  She truly is a joy to work with, each and every day,” said Brushy Creek secretary Angela Rutland.

"Dana arrived at our school in the winter after agreeing to become our school nurse.  We knew right away that she had a huge heart for our staff and students," said Perez. "Only a few days after her arrival, we had an emergency shelter-in-place, as a tornado was in the area. She quickly worked to ensure that all safety precautions were followed and that everyone stayed calm. Although this was her first school-wide emergency as a school nurse, we knew that she was going to be a LifeChanger in our school because of the positive support she brought."  

Not long after that, COVID-19 hit, and the job of a school nurse took on a whole new meaning.  Throughout the pandemic, Mrs. Kendrick has worked tirelessly every day for her school.  She comes in early and stays well after her contract hours pay her.  The extra documentation and work piled upon her because of COVID-19 is not easily noticed because she handles each day with grace and stays positive, giving her best to each person who walks in her office.

Although she stays busy working with students who have COVID-19 symptoms, she also works diligently to ensure students with other health needs are taken care of. There are several students with chronic conditions who need her care.  She always finds a way to make them feel as if they are the only student with a need, even though her work has doubled during this pandemic.  She stays calm, positive, and diligent in her work.  Her presence is a calming factor in her school.

Mrs. Kendrick’s work as the school nurse has become even more important as her love for students reaches beyond their physical care. Social-emotional health is crucial to the well being of students and staff members.  As a school nurse, Mrs. Kendrick works to take care of everyone physically, but she has also worked to ensure she helps meet her students and colleagues' social-emotional needs, as well. She includes graphic organizers in her office to support the social-emotional health of students.  One example is a sign where students can point to an image to show how they are feeling.  This is important for all students, but especially for multilingual students, and students who have communication needs.  She routinely prioritizes the feelings and wellness of students as she treats their physical needs.  She is a LifeChanger because she pays attention to the whole child, collaborating regularly with school staff when she sees a student with a social-emotional need. 

One primary student with a chronic health condition said, “Mrs. Kendrick is silly.  She is very surprising.  She reads to me when I get library books. Mrs. Kendrick hangs my pictures that I draw of her. She gives me honey or nuts when I am low.”

"Our staff and students’ lives are better every day because of our very own LifeChanger, Dana Kendrick," said Perez.