Nurse Named School Health LPN of the Year
January 12, 2015
MONCKS CORNER, SC – Tracy Freeman, a licensed practical nurse (LPN) with Berkeley County School District, has been named South Carolina’s 2014-2015 School Health LPN of the Year.
The annual award is given to a licensed practical nurse practicing in a school setting, who provides outstanding nursing services to a school community.
Freeman, a certified CPR instructor, Darkness to Light trainer and Blood Bourne Pathogen trainer, serves as the Health Services Specialist for the Berkeley-Dorchester Head Start program and is a nurse liaison for all Head Start programs across Berkeley, Dorchester 2 and Dorchester 4 School Districts. She works closely with registered nurses to develop individualized care plans for students as well as with families, assisting in their medical needs. As the school nurse for Fishburne Educational Center, Freeman manages and tracks the growth and development of all the Berkeley-Dorchester Head Start students. She also has assisted with the development of the severe allergy and anaphylaxis plan for Berkeley County School District and facilitated the necessary paperwork required to ensure each school Epi-Pens.
Not only does Freeman provide health care to countless students, train employees in multiple districts, and ensure each school has the necessary medicine for allergic reactions, she also organized the Health Service Advisory Committee. The committee collaborates with local pediatricians, physicians, dentists, mental health care providers and other specialists who can provide assistance and educational support to parents, teachers and students.
Dr. Karen Whitley, Associate Superintendent of Program Support with Berkeley County School District said, “In the 37 years I have been in education and the 11 years I have worked at the district level, rarely have I been privileged to work with a nurse of such high work ethic, social awareness and positive personality. Whether providing care for a student, collaborating with an administrator or teacher, working with a parent or guardian or networking with a peer, Mrs. Freeman has the respect of all.”
Freeman will be recognized at an awards ceremony on Saturday, January 31, 2015 during the Annual School Nurse Conference to be held at the Embassy Suites & Conference Center in North Charleston.
