Wawasee’s Bauer Named Nurse Administrator Of The Year
March 7, 2022 at 11:46 p.m.
Wawasee’s Bauer Named Nurse Administrator Of The Year
By David [email protected]
To her surprise, while waiting at WMS, she received a call from Chris Amidon, National Association of School Nurses director, to let her know she was the Indiana Association of School Nurses Nurse Administrator of the Year.
“I really just want you to know that you are the Indiana School Nurse Administrator of the Year,” Amidon told her.
“Are you kidding me?” Bauer replied.
“I’m not kidding you! I’m so excited to be able to let you know that,” Amidon reassured her. “So, several people who you work with, along with (Warsaw Community Schools Nurse Coordinator) Tracey Akers, nominated you.”
Amidon told Bauer that the people who nominated her “just talked over and over again about how above and beyond you go and how positive your attitude is, even in these really difficult times. And, what a good leader you’ve been.”
Bauer thanked Amidon and told her she was so shocked she didn’t “even have words.” Amidon told Bauer the state conference would begin June 15 and they would be honoring Bauer that day. Unfortunately, Sarah and her husband Dan will be on vacation that week.
She thanked Amidon again and said, “I just love my school and my corporation. They’re awesome people. Just awesome.”
Amidon told Bauer she could tell the feeling was mutual. At that point, Bauer said she will have to thank Akers for nominating her, and that’s when she learned Akers was in the building.
Akers - along with Dan, Wawasee administrators and nurses, media and others - were waiting in a conference room, listening to the phone conversation between Bauer and Amidon, to surprise Bauer and congratulate her on the award.
Upon entering the conference room, Bauer received hugs from the nurses, her secretary and her husband. There was a big green and white cake and flowers waiting for her.
Akers told Bauer, “I just wanted to let you know, when I reached out to your corporation because I said I would really like to nominate Sarah Bauer for the school nurse administrator of the year, they were like, ‘Of course!’ And they were, right away, saying, ‘We’ve got all sorts of things we can tell you about Sarah. She’s awesome.’”
Akers then read a few comments about Bauer, who will have her 10-year work anniversary at Wawasee Schools in December, from the nomination.
Cindy Jonsson, WMS main office secretary, said she worked with Bauer for over the last seven years. “She is truly one of the best. Sarah loves her family and friends and that shows when she cares for her staff and students. Even during this difficult past two years, she has worked many hours before, after school and on weekends to ensure everyone has been taken care of no matter the time or day.”
Jonsson called Bauer “a friend, compassionate, listener, caring, invaluable and a professional.”
North Webster Elementary School nurse Kimberly Hollopeter said, in part, “From my perspective as a school nurse under Sarah, she has gone above and beyond not only for her students and staff but also as a leader to all of us nurses. She takes care of the day-to-day functions of one very busy school.”
Hollopeter also wrote, “Her leadership is one that stands out because she cares and has a heart of gold. Sarah supports us, encourage us and helps us to persevere when things get tough. We are very blessed to work with the best.”
Special Services Coordinator Jennifer Phillips said Bauer “is an exceptional leader in general and specifically to our nursing staff in our corporation. During the pandemic, she has led her team through some of the most difficult circumstances. She inspires them with encouraging words, her support when they’re struggling and the systems she sets up to make sure everyone is successful and supported.”
For her part of the nomination, Akers wrote, “Sarah reached out to me when she became the coordinator for Wawasee because she wanted to find out how to improve the position and to make sure she was efficient in her role. We met regularly with the coordinator at Tippecanoe Valley (because she was new in her role, too) so we could share ideas, forms and keep up to date with school nursing best practices. Sarah is very organized and compassionate. Even though the past two years with COVID have made us all weary, she continues to have a positive attitude and be an effective leader in her corporation.”
After the comments were read, Bauer said, “Really, I can’t do it without these four ladies (school nurses Tisha Powell, Kim Hollopeter, Kari Schlabach and Kallie Harris). They’re my backbone and my strength. ... Those four ladies right there, this corporation can’t get much better than what we have in our corporation. They’re the best! They really are. They’re the best!”
She also thanked several others in the school corporation for their support.
To her surprise, while waiting at WMS, she received a call from Chris Amidon, National Association of School Nurses director, to let her know she was the Indiana Association of School Nurses Nurse Administrator of the Year.
“I really just want you to know that you are the Indiana School Nurse Administrator of the Year,” Amidon told her.
“Are you kidding me?” Bauer replied.
“I’m not kidding you! I’m so excited to be able to let you know that,” Amidon reassured her. “So, several people who you work with, along with (Warsaw Community Schools Nurse Coordinator) Tracey Akers, nominated you.”
Amidon told Bauer that the people who nominated her “just talked over and over again about how above and beyond you go and how positive your attitude is, even in these really difficult times. And, what a good leader you’ve been.”
Bauer thanked Amidon and told her she was so shocked she didn’t “even have words.” Amidon told Bauer the state conference would begin June 15 and they would be honoring Bauer that day. Unfortunately, Sarah and her husband Dan will be on vacation that week.
She thanked Amidon again and said, “I just love my school and my corporation. They’re awesome people. Just awesome.”
Amidon told Bauer she could tell the feeling was mutual. At that point, Bauer said she will have to thank Akers for nominating her, and that’s when she learned Akers was in the building.
Akers - along with Dan, Wawasee administrators and nurses, media and others - were waiting in a conference room, listening to the phone conversation between Bauer and Amidon, to surprise Bauer and congratulate her on the award.
Upon entering the conference room, Bauer received hugs from the nurses, her secretary and her husband. There was a big green and white cake and flowers waiting for her.
Akers told Bauer, “I just wanted to let you know, when I reached out to your corporation because I said I would really like to nominate Sarah Bauer for the school nurse administrator of the year, they were like, ‘Of course!’ And they were, right away, saying, ‘We’ve got all sorts of things we can tell you about Sarah. She’s awesome.’”
Akers then read a few comments about Bauer, who will have her 10-year work anniversary at Wawasee Schools in December, from the nomination.
Cindy Jonsson, WMS main office secretary, said she worked with Bauer for over the last seven years. “She is truly one of the best. Sarah loves her family and friends and that shows when she cares for her staff and students. Even during this difficult past two years, she has worked many hours before, after school and on weekends to ensure everyone has been taken care of no matter the time or day.”
Jonsson called Bauer “a friend, compassionate, listener, caring, invaluable and a professional.”
North Webster Elementary School nurse Kimberly Hollopeter said, in part, “From my perspective as a school nurse under Sarah, she has gone above and beyond not only for her students and staff but also as a leader to all of us nurses. She takes care of the day-to-day functions of one very busy school.”
Hollopeter also wrote, “Her leadership is one that stands out because she cares and has a heart of gold. Sarah supports us, encourage us and helps us to persevere when things get tough. We are very blessed to work with the best.”
Special Services Coordinator Jennifer Phillips said Bauer “is an exceptional leader in general and specifically to our nursing staff in our corporation. During the pandemic, she has led her team through some of the most difficult circumstances. She inspires them with encouraging words, her support when they’re struggling and the systems she sets up to make sure everyone is successful and supported.”
For her part of the nomination, Akers wrote, “Sarah reached out to me when she became the coordinator for Wawasee because she wanted to find out how to improve the position and to make sure she was efficient in her role. We met regularly with the coordinator at Tippecanoe Valley (because she was new in her role, too) so we could share ideas, forms and keep up to date with school nursing best practices. Sarah is very organized and compassionate. Even though the past two years with COVID have made us all weary, she continues to have a positive attitude and be an effective leader in her corporation.”
After the comments were read, Bauer said, “Really, I can’t do it without these four ladies (school nurses Tisha Powell, Kim Hollopeter, Kari Schlabach and Kallie Harris). They’re my backbone and my strength. ... Those four ladies right there, this corporation can’t get much better than what we have in our corporation. They’re the best! They really are. They’re the best!”
She also thanked several others in the school corporation for their support.
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