CCSD has State’s Top School Nurse for second year in a row
January 21, 2019
Charleston County School District (CCSD) announced that Jill Burgin, the school nurse at Stiles Point Elementary School, was named the 2019 South Carolina School Nurse of the Year by the South Carolina State Department of Education and the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) this week. This is the second straight year a nurse from CCSD has earned this honor; Mary Ford Elementary School’s Charlene Barbot won this award in 2018.
Burgin has been a nurse for 25 years, including the past 14 at Stiles Point Elementary. She graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina’s College of Nursing in 1992, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She is a member of the National Association of School Nurses, the South Carolina Association of School Nurses (SCASN), and the Association of Camp Nurses. Burgin is responsible for the health and wellness of over 700 students and staff members at Stiles Point where she administers medications, manages diabetics, completes screenings, and trains staff for emergencies.
“Jill Burgin is undoubtedly the best ‘hands-on’ health professional that I have ever had in any of my schools,” explained Stiles Point Principal Michael Ard. “I have been a school administrator for more than 20 years. She has made many ‘calls’ during my tenure at Stiles Point, and she has yet to miss the mark on any of them. I trust her; that is a big statement.”
Burgin will receive her award at the 38th Annual SCASN Conference Saturday, February 2, 2019, in Columbia, SC.
“Jill is a professional nurse who provides compassionate, effective nursing practice and is an advocate for her students,” added CCSD’s Director of Nursing Services, Melissa Prendergast. “She has also implemented numerous school-wide health promotion and wellness strategies, all of which have had a positive impact on students, staff, and families.”
About the Charleston County School District
Charleston County School District (CCSD) is the second largest school system in South Carolina representing a unique blend of urban, suburban, and rural schools that span 1,000 square miles along the coast. CCSD serves more than 50,000 students in 86 schools and specialized programs. With approximately 6,100 employees district-wide, CCSD is the fourth largest employer in the region.
CCSD offers a diverse, expanding portfolio of options and specialized programs, delivered through neighborhood, charter, magnet, IB (international baccalaureate), and Montessori schools, and is divided into three Learning Communities. Options include specialized programs in science, engineering and mathematics; liberal arts; music and other creative and performing arts; career and technical preparation programs; and military and other public service enterprises.
