School nurses are essential to the health, wellness, and academic success of students.
Over the past school year, more than 5,000 students were enrolled in the Ashland and Phoenix-Talent School Districts. Thanks to gifts from generous donors, students had barrier-free access to essential dental, physical, and mental health services through School Nurse Programs.
Our school nurses continue to witness a growing number of children facing serious challenges, including poverty, houselessness, and substance abuse. As a trusted provider, their unique skills allow them to identify these issues early and provide compassionate support to students in need.
In the Ashland School District, support was especially vital during a time of significant financial hardship. With budget deficits affecting school operations, donations helped ensure that critical nursing services could continue—offering care, stability, and support to students when they needed it most.
In the Phoenix-Talent School District, nurse Carrie McDonald (pictured above) was honored by the Oregon Nurses Association as the 2025 Oregon School Nurse of the Year, in recognition of her exceptional skills, dedication to students, and leadership.
Specifically, over the last year she has provided comprehensive training for school staff to prepare them for a safe and healthy summer school program. Thanks to donor support, Carrie was able to provide education on emergency medical procedures including EpiPen use, medication administration, diabetic care, seizure response, CPR, AED use, and first aid.
Our donors also helped Phoenix High School become the first in Oregon to achieve Project ADAM certification—a national initiative focused on preventing sudden cardiac death of children, youth, and adults. The school now has the tools and training to respond quickly to cardiac emergencies, potentially saving lives.
The School Nurse Program continues to be a lifeline for children and families across our community. ACHF is grateful for our donor family for believing in this mission and for helping us build a healthier, safer future for every student.
To find out more about how you can support the School Nurse Program, contact Boone Kizer at 541-482-0367 x3 or boone.kizer@achfoundation.org.
