Ellen Nitz selected as CCSD Director of Nursing Services
June 11, 2019
Charleston County School District (CCSD) announced Ellen Nitz as the new director of Nursing Services. Nitz has served in the district for the past 12 years as the nurse liaison for Constituent Districts 1 and 2. She has managed and helped standardize healthcare practices for her schools and has been a true advocate for students and school nurses. Current Nursing Services Director, Melissa Prendergast, is set to retire July 1.
Nitz started her nursing career in North Carolina as a Level II Neonatal Nurse. Her passion for education led her into medical sales with various national healthcare companies. It was there that she became well known with the local physicians for her knowledge of products and the importance of patient education. In 2007, Nitz’s desire to help children led her to school nursing. She began as a substitute nurse and quickly advanced to managing summer school. Her commitment and management skills helped her acquire the nurse liaison position for Mount Pleasant and McClellanville schools. In 2008, she assumed the role as the lead CPR instructor for Nursing Services and was responsible for training all CCSD First Responders. She also teamed up with Roper Hospital to provide an AED to every CCSD school.
“Ellen is a lifelong learner who takes time to update and educate herself to be the best that she can be,” added CCSD Director of Nursing Melissa Prendergast. “She sets the bar high for her nurses as well as herself. She is a compassionate, informed, and professional school nurse administrator.”
Nitz was awarded the 2018 SC School Nurse Administrator of the Year and was nominated for the Mount Pleasant Community Preparedness Award for SC related to her Stop the Bleed trainings for CCSD staff. She also works as a mother/baby nurse at Roper Mount Pleasant Hospital and is a Roper educator for Women’s Services.
“We are very excited to have Ellen Nitz join our leadership team,” said CCSD Associate Superintendent Michele English-Watson. “Ellen’s professional talent and skills will help guide nursing services to higher levels of conscientiousness helping to safeguard the health of our students!”
Nitz graduated from the University of North Carolina Charlotte with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
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.
