Mary Schatz
The Ohio Association of School Nurses recently named Mary Schatz, MSN, RN, LSN, nurse manager for Akron Children’s School Health Services, the Ohio School Nurse Administrator of the Year. This prestigious, statewide award honors Mary’s exceptional leadership and commitment to fostering a healthy and supportive environment for students across 43 school districts.
Mary’s leadership style cultivates a collaborative atmosphere where diverse perspectives are valued. She empowers her team of more than 200 nurses through shared decision-making and professional development opportunities.
Mary is a lifelong learner herself, currently pursuing her doctoral degree in nursing education. She actively seeks ways to advance the profession, co-authoring an article on communication strategies for school nurses and leading the way in CPR/first aid training within the school setting.
Recognizing the importance of collaboration, Mary participates in “endocrine rounds” to facilitate communication between School Health Services and the Akron Children’s Endocrinology department for students with Type 1 diabetes and was an initial member of the asthma team lead group. She also champions the school nursing profession and collaborates on policy development. Mary played a key role in implementing stock medication policies for Narcan, epinephrine and albuterol, highlighting the need for readily available medications in schools.
Mary’s dedication extends beyond the standard scope of school nursing. She developed the “Body Wise” program, a comprehensive maturation program for fifth graders, ensuring students receive vital health education.
Mary’s commitment to quality care goes beyond policies and procedures. She takes the time to mentor and support each nurse on her team, helping them develop their leadership skills and achieve their professional goals.
Mary said the award is especially meaningful because she was nominated by her staff.
“My staff are the foundation of the department and mean everything to me,” she said. “School nursing is a continuum of care that supports building healthy students that are ready to learn. That is the goal of our department, and I am honored to represent the impact that School Health Services makes on student outcomes in supporting that vision for the state of Ohio.”
Mary’s unwavering commitment to student health, leadership and collaboration make her a truly deserving recipient of this award. Congratulations, Mary, on this well-earned recognition!
