𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙉𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝘿𝙖𝙮 𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙤𝙣 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙩’𝙨 19 𝙣𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙧, 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙜𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙙𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙏𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨
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LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NJ — Linden Public Schools’ 19 school nurses gathered Wednesday afternoon, May 6, at the Information Commons inside Linden High School for “Cheers to School Nurses!,” a luncheon celebration recognizing National Nurses Day and the start of National Nurses Week.
Held during the district’s Tiger Pride Wellness Day and the kickoff of Mental Health Awareness Month recognition, the event brought together nurses from across the district for an afternoon of appreciation, reflection, and professional connection centered on the critical role school nurses play in supporting students’ physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
“The First Line of Defense”
Derek Armstead stopped by the gathering to personally thank the nurses for their dedication and continued service to Linden students and families, praising the compassion and commitment they bring to schools every day.
Assistant Superintendent Annabell Louis and Principal Charles Koonce also addressed the group, highlighting the department’s impact across the district.
“You are the first line of defense,” Louis told the nurses. “A child cannot learn in the classroom if they’re not well — physically, emotionally, or mentally well. And that is what you do each and every day.”
Koonce thanked the nurses for the expertise, calm, and consistency they bring to schools every day.
“Without you, we cannot do what we do every day,” Koonce said. “We lean on your professional expertise constantly.”
Led by District Head Nurse Patricia Ryans-James, the luncheon blended celebration with honest conversation as nurses shared stories from their years in the profession — moments that highlighted both the emotional demands and life-changing impact of school nursing.
Stories Beyond the Nurse’s Office
Throughout the afternoon, nurses reflected on students whose visits to the nurse’s office revealed challenges far deeper than a headache or stomachache. Several stories focused on how persistence, compassion, and professional instinct helped uncover serious medical or mental health concerns that may otherwise have gone unnoticed.
“A lot of times, students end up in the office with what presents initially as a stomachache or a headache, but deep down inside there’s underlying anxiety, depression, or undiagnosed mental health concerns,” Louis said. “A lot of times, you’re the first one to dig it out, and you’re the first one to figure it out.”
The emotional stories shared throughout the luncheon served as reminders that school nurses are often among the first trusted adults to recognize when something bigger may be happening in a child’s life.
A Profession Built on Experience and Heart
The afternoon also offered a powerful portrait of the experience, mentorship, and continuity that define the district’s nursing department.
At one end of that story is Beth Radil of School No. 6, whose remarkable 41-year nursing career includes 21 years serving Linden students and families. At the other is Melissa Lopez-Valdes, a nurse of 21 years who is just four months into her journey with Linden Public Schools.
Together, they represented the blend of veteran wisdom and fresh energy filling the room — nurses at different stages of their careers, united by the same commitment to care, compassion, and service.
There were moments of laughter, dancing, storytelling, and reflection throughout the luncheon, giving nurses an opportunity to reconnect with colleagues and celebrate a profession that often operates quietly behind the scenes but remains essential to the daily life of every school building.
For the district’s frontline caregivers, the afternoon served as both a celebration and a reminder that the work they do each day continues to leave a lasting impact on students, families, and the Linden school community.
💚 #LPS_ShowUpAndROAR