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As she nears the one-year mark of becoming Chambers County School District’s new lead nurse, Carla Anthony was recognized for taking on the District 4 Chairperson on the board of directors for the Alabama Association of School Nurses (AASN). 

AASN is a statewide organization that seeks to “improve the health and educational outcomes of students by strengthening the practices of the professional school nurse.” This means facilitating nurses getting their continuing education units (CEU) filled, organizing districtwide conferences and advocating for student health services in the legislative process. 

The District 4 seat used to be filled by CCSD’s former lead nurse, Loretta Cofield; however, after many years of service as a school nurse, Cofield retired last year. 

Anthony, a Valley native, has worked for the school district since 2019. Last year, she took up the position of lead nurse. Since then, she has been grateful for Cofield’s continued advice and guidance. 

“She has been a prayer warrior, a mentor, a friend, a parent when I need it,” Anthony said. “She has gone above and beyond to help me.”

Anthony said she was excited to take on the role of chairperson because of the resources and connections that the AASN fosters between school systems. 

There are a lot of things that people don’t know about that nurses need to know in a school setting. After a year leading Chambers County’s school nurses, Anthony has seen a lot of growth but she hopes to cultivate even more. 

“I want all the information that I can get to do the best job I can do for my county,” she said. 

Even now, she has begun developing relationships with other counties and joining conversations. 

After a year on the job, Anthony said one thing she wished more parents knew was that school nurses cannot diagnose students or give medicine to students without a doctor’s order. School nurses also don’t have any control over excused versus unexcused absences.

Reflecting on the past year as lead nurse, Anthony said she is grateful to the school nurses’ staff for their hard work. 

“This job is like a machine with all the arms working,” she said. “Our nurses just do just a phenomenal job, and they are wonderful at communicating, which makes my job easier, and I try my best to communicate with them as best I can.”

When she first took the position, the state surveys were one of her main focuses. She said that the nurses worked hard and the results of the state surveys exceeded her expectations.

“We did great on the survey,” Anthony said. “That was Loretta, [she] got us ready.”

With ESSER funds coming to end this year, Anthony’s other main focus has been spending the remaining infectious disease control money. She pointed to a wall-to-wall display of everything from PPD to soaps and sanitizers. But when more funding became available, Anthony said she had to decide where to allocate that money.

“What’s the first line of defense? Hand washing,” She said.  

That’s how she decided to install sinks in the nurse’s office for the schools with the most need. They are starting with Eastside J.P. Powell Magnet School and Huguley Elementary School. Anthony explained that nurses need a designated place for themselves and their students to wash off nearby. 

Moving forward, it’s her goal to continue installing sinks where possible.