LA PLATA, Md. — A La Plata High School nurse honored for nearly three decades of service to Charles County Public Schools will retire at the end of the school year, officials said.
Sheila Brockmann first came to CCPS as a substitute nurse, sharing the job with another nurse at Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School, members of the Charles County Public Schools School Health Program said. Being a school nurse fit much better into her family’s busy schedule. Her husband was a pilot, and their children were starting school.
Brockmann was taken into the full-time position at La Plata after substitute nursing for a bit. She was transported through her career while her own children attended La Plata High School. “I was in high school with my kids,” she said of her two children, La Plata graduates.
Brockmann had been working with La Plata students since taking the full-time role. “I love teenagers. I have a soft spot for them,” she said. “You can talk to them a little more, joke with them,” she said. The students are at a stage in life where they are taking charge of their own health, but are still learning. School nurses provide more than Band-Aids and cool compresses. “There’s so much more than that,” Brockmann said. “Some of the students call me their ‘school mom.’ You have to wear many different hats.”
School nurses are called on to assist with everyday crises like unexpected injuries or sudden illnesses, but they are also essential players in helping students maintain their health. School nurses can oversee students who have diabetes, those with gastrostomy tubes, ADHD, and other conditions, in addition to other duties as assigned.
“She creates a welcoming and supportive environment where students feel safe and cared for,” Desiree Colvin, school health program manager, said. “Sheila works collaboratively with staff, families, and students while always maintaining a positive attitude and a student-centered approach.”
Brockmann is presumed to continue her legacy of service as she retires. No additional details about future plans beyond family relocation have been released publicly.
The charges of dedication stem from an investigation by the Charles County Public Schools. A recognition was issued after nearly three decades of service.
The school system has 56 part-time and full-time school nurses, contracted through the Charles County Department of Health, working in schools and centers. Charles County officials have emphasized the importance of such collaborations in supporting student health while cases move through the school year.
To learn more about the school health program, visit www.ccboe.com.
This honor comes amid ongoing local efforts to address student wellness in Southern Maryland. The Charles County Public Schools encourages residents to learn more about the school health program or volunteer opportunities through the Charles County Department of Health.
The program remains active as administrators prepare for the next school year.
