Educator Awards Spotlight: Adriana Vanbianchi

Adriana Vanbianchi is the North Central ESD 171 Regional Classified School Employee of the Year and is the School District Nurse for Methow Valley Schools

We’re sharing the wisdom of our incredible regional and state Teachers and Classified School Employees of the Year, in their own words. Find more on our Spotlight page.

What advice would you give someone who is just beginning their career in education?

From one school nurse to another, I would advise one to approach the nurse job at the school as having hundreds of patients under your care as case manager. This is teachers, staff, students, they are all my patients and my job is it get them the care they need.

Rely on rapport with your local clinics and build trust with patients so they will come to you if they need help with a health crises.

What one change in education are you most excited for in our (almost) post-COVID reality?

COVID is still a big part of our health policies and protocols for the 2021–22 school year. However I would also like to support the implementation of nutritional non-processed meals served at our cafeteria.

We have the most incredible cooks in our cafeteria who made nutritious, home-made meals in the past. With COVID, they had to move towards individual packaged meals. These were more processed. I would love to have time to work with the cafeteria to implement our home-cooked nutritious meals again while also practicing the necessary infection control.

What was something that surprised you about working in education?

School nurse is usually in the back-ground of a school districts daily activities. With the onset of the pandemic, school nurses have been pushed to the forefront of the school to help navigate this difficult times. Like everyone else, the pandemic took me by surprise and the change in my job description happened quickly. Thru my past experience in education and healthcare, I was able to dive in to the new challenges. Yes, the 2020–21 school year was difficult, but also so rewarding to work with my colleagues, superintendent, health officers and fellow school nurses.

When did you decide to work in education and what sustains you professionally?

I am learning so much as school nurse. The days are a challenge but the support of my colleagues is what sustains me. Working in a team is where I thrive and I love working with a group towards a common cause. And everyone has a common cause in the school: the health, safety and happiness of our school.

What do you wish more people knew about your job?

Every decision I make is with the best of intentions for the health and safety of our school community.

Every decision is made with the help and input of the administration team and health professionals of the county.

Learn more about the Teacher and Classified School Employees of the Year on the Educator Awards website.