CONCORD – The New Hampshire School Nurse Association (NHSNA), in conjunction with the New Hampshire Department of Education, is proud to announce Ellen Zimmerman, RN, M.Ed. as their selection for School Nurse of the Year. This award acknowledges a member of the NH School Nurse Association who demonstrates excellence in school nursing practice and leadership in school health.
Ellen has served the students, families and staff within the Timberlane Regional School District for the past nineteen years. Currently, she serves as the school nurse at Sandown North Elementary School. She was formerly the school nurse for Sandown Central School.
In her present position, she has been described as one who “empowers children and leads them toward independence” and a “valuable resource to staff members, other professionals in the district, and to parents.” During her tenure at the Timberlane Regional School District she has worked collaboratively with the Alexander Eastman Foundation School Dental Program, the Sandown Police Department’s DARE Program and for the past eight years she has co-chaired the Sandown North Emergency Response Team.
Ellen has been very active member of the NHSNA for more than fifteen years and has held the offices of Treasurer, President, and currently is chairperson of the By-laws committee. From 2002-2006 Ellen also served as the NHSNA representative to the National Association of School Nurses (NASN), serving on various tasks forces. In 2006, with other members of the NHSNA, she visited Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. and talked with congressional representatives and senators about current health issues in schools. She has been an enthusiastic supporter of many NHSNA workshops, including but not limited to, serving on the planning committee for the New School Nurse workshop held annually at St. Anselm’s College.
Ellen is very committed to her purpose as a school nurse and is most willing to share this commitment and enthusiasm with those new to the profession of school nursing. Ellen is an active member of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the Timberlane Teachers Association (TTA), serving as her building representative for two years.
Please join us in congratulating Ellen. She was honored with a proclamation from Governor John Lynch at the NHSNA Spring Meeting and Conference on April 12th in Bartlett. As one of the superlatives amongst New Hampshire educators, she will also be recognized at the New Hampshire Excellence in Education awards ceremony June 7th.
