• 2023-2024 School Health Nursing Staff

    The mission of Unit 5 Certified School Nurses:
    To enhance the educational potential of all students by promoting wellness and facilitating the resolution of health concerns which create barriers to learning.

    The education and training of Certified School Nurses:
    A Certified School Nurse (CSN) has passed the State of Illinois licensure exam to become a Registered Nurse (RN) & has graduated from a college or university with a Bachelors Degree in Nursing (BSN). In addition, a Certified School Nurse has gained a higher level of expertise through clinical experience and theory/classes to obtain certification from the Illinois State Board of Education in the specialty area of school nursing.

    The definition of a “School Nurse” - by The National Association of School Nurses:
    "School nursing is a specialized practice of professional nursing that advances the well-being, academic success, and life-long achievement of students. To that end, school nurses facilitate positive student responses to normal development; promote health and safety; intervene with actual and potential health problems; provide case management services; and actively collaborate with others to build student and family capacity for adaptation, self management, self advocacy, and learning."

    HIGH SCHOOLS

    • Tamara Ahrens ahrenst@unit5.org  - BSN, RN, PEL-Certified School Nurse - Normal Community High School  
    • Jessica Murphy murphyj@unit5.org - MSN, RN,PEL-Certified School Nurse -  Normal Community High School
    • Paula Birsa birsapj@unit5.org  - BSN, RN, PEL-Certified School Nurse, National Certification - Normal West High School
    • Annette Cherry cherrya@unit5.org - MSN, RN, PEL-Certified School Nurse, National Certification - Normal West High School 

    JUNIOR HIGHS SCHOOLS

    • Lyn Carter carterl@unit5.org - MSN, RN, PEL-Certified School Nurse, National Certification - Parkside Junior 
    • Andrea Powell powellan@unit5.org - BSN, RN, PEL-Certified School Nurse - Chiddix Junior High  
    • Joely McCaw mccawj@unit5.org - MSN, RN, PEL-Certified School Nurse - Evans Junior 
    • Jennifer O'Brien obrienja@unit5.org - RN, BSN, PEL-Certified School Nurse - Kingsley Junior  

    EARLY LEARNING & ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS  

    • Kellee Mustard mustark@unit5.org - MSN, RN, PEL-Certified School Nurse  - District Wide Float Nurse 
    • Kacy Bryant bryantk@unit5.org - BSN, RN - Hoose 
    • Melissa Scottberg scottbm@unit5.org - BSN, RN - Cedar Ridge
    • Susy Marcum marcumns@unit5.org - MSN, RN, PEL-Certified School Nurse, National Certification, Nursing Department Chair - Grove & Eugene Field
    • Kelly Cole colekm@unit5.org - MEd, RN, PEL-Certified School Nurse, National Certification - Prairieland & Towanda
    • Amanda Goff goffa@unit5.org - BSN, RN, PEL-Certified School Nurse, National Certification - Parkside Elementary
    • Karen Reichard reichak@unit5.org - BSN, RN, PEL-Certified School Nurse - Benjamin
    • Jen Sikes sikesj@unit5.org - BSN, RN, PEL-Certified School Nurse - Sugar Creek
    • Emily Tucker tuckeres@unit5.org - BSN, RN, PEL-Certified School Nurse - Oakdale
    • Amy Jones jonesam@unit5.org - BSN, RN, PEL-Certified School Nurse - Fox Creek & Glenn
    • Jill Deacon deaconj@unit5.org - MSN, RN, PEL-Certified School Nurse, National Certification - Fariview & Hudson
    • Penny Brandt brandtp@unit5.org - BSN, RN, PEL-Certified School Nurse - Northpoint & Carlock
    • Amy Boland bolanda@unit5.org - BSN, RN - Pepper Ridge   
    • Rebekah Burch burchr@unit5.org - BSN, RN - Brigham
    • Melissa Anton antonmj@unit5.org - BSN, RN - Glenn & Fairview

    Special Education Classroom

    Substitute