PTS nurse claims state honors

 

LINCOLN CITY — Phoenix-Talent School District nurse Carrie McDonald was honored as the 2025 Oregon School Nurse of the Year by the Oregon School Nurses Association during its annual spring conference on Thursday in Lincoln City.

McDonald, a former classroom teacher turned district nurse, was recognized for her extraordinary dedication to student wellness, her tireless advocacy for medically fragile children, and her leadership across Jackson County. In her second year as the PTS district nurse, McDonald has ensured that every medically fragile student in Phoenix-Talent remains in their neighborhood school – avoiding costly and disruptive out-of-district placements – by personally training staff, coordinating care with physicians, and leading comprehensive health plans at each site.

"She’s really an advocate for those students," said PTS assistant superintendent Dr. Tiffanie Lambert, McDonald’s direct supervisor. "She makes sure every kid is included – on field trips, at outdoor school, and in classrooms with their peers."

McDonald did not know she had been selected until the award was announced by OSNA vice president Tamara Bow at the Chinook Winds Conference Center. A few of her friends and family members were in on the secret and were there to congratulate McDonald in-person. The big moment was captured on film and shared to PTS staff and families on social media.

McDonald’s award marks the third major statewide honor for a PTS administrator in four years. Superintendent Brent Barry was named Oregon Superintendent of the Year in 2022, and Lambert received the 2023 Achievement of Excellence award from the Oregon Association of Central Office Administrators (OACOA).

A bilingual communicator, McDonald has become a critical health liaison for both English- and Spanish-speaking families, especially during crises. She coordinated the district’s COVID-19 response, co-authored its Emergency Operations Plan, and led the post-Almeda Fire health relief efforts, setting up mobile clinics and personally delivering aid and services to displaced families.

Beyond emergency response, McDonald also teaches sensitive classroom health topics such as puberty education and suicide prevention with the polish of a seasoned educator, and regularly updates and monitors 504 plans to ensure student accommodations are met districtwide.

She spearheaded PTS’s Narcan training and distribution program, securing grants and training all staff in overdose response. Similarly, she equipped each school with EpiPens and ensured emergency medical supplies are mapped and accessible throughout all district buildings.

While McDonald’s detail-oriented administrative work has proven essential in PTS, it’s the heart behind her day-to-day work for students and families daily that sets her apart, Lambert says.

“There was a student whose parent had to get to work in the morning so the student wasn’t getting medication safely,” Lambert recalled, citing one of many cases. “So Carrie was able to pick up the parent, get the medication with the parent, bring the student to the school, check it in, and finally train the staff on how to administer the medication. This child was not doing well without regular medication. Today, he’s a totally different kid now that he’s able to have his medical needs met and is able to stay in school.”

The Oregon School Nurse of the Year award is presented annually to a school nurse who exemplifies outstanding clinical skill, compassionate care, and a demonstrated commitment to student wellness.