Bucks County Technical HS Nurse Selected as "Unsung Hero"

Newtown Township resident Katie Engelhardt, a nurse at Bucks County Technical High School, has been selected as an "Unsung Hero" in a new campaign recognizing public school support professionals, for which she also receives a $1,000 grant.

In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week taking place May 6 to 10, 2019, CAPS (Council for the Advancement of Public Schools) and the Pennsylvania State Education Association/Mideastern Region (PSEA/MER) are sponsoring an “Unsung Heroes” campaign to spotlight the key roles played by support professionals who work in the public schools of Bucks and Montgomery counties. Every week through April 30, one of four nominated "heroes" is being featured online and on the CAPS Facebook page, and the public is encouraged to vote for a grand prize winner.

“We want to bring attention to and thank these very valuable professionals who are so critical to the success of our students, and who are often not as visible to the general public as our classroom teachers,” said Alan M. Malachowski, president of PSEA/MER. “Without them and their colleagues across the region who serve in so many different capacities, the school experience would be not be as enriching for our students,” he added.

The four professionals are each being awarded a grant of $1,000 with the grand prize winner receiving a $2,000 grant for a school project of their choice, thanks to PSEA/MER and CAPS. To help bring these projects to fruition, the public is invited to see videos about these inspiring heroes and vote for their favorite at http://friendsofpubliced.org/unsung-heroes-of-bucks-and-montgomery-county-schools/

For Katie, kindness is key and she always wants to make a difference for every single person whom she meets every single day. She believes that academics come first and that physical and mental health conditions can prevent students from meeting their goals. The students recognize her importance in their lives and the ones who know her best say she is “like a second Mom.” Her nominator noted, “Katie has totally transformed our Nursing Suite into a nurturing place where students feel very comfortable and supported. She also started a Comfort Closet to assist our students with personal care items, clothes, book bags, etc.”

With the $1,000 grant, Katie will be able to improve school safety by replacing an older model automated external defibrillator (AED) with a new model geared specifically for use by nonmedical personnel. She will also be able to enhance the offerings of the Comfort Closet to include female and male-specific hygiene and laundry products to increase the health, wellness, and self-esteem of the students. Earning the second $1,000 grant would help to defray the $3,000 to $4,000 cost of expanding the Student Assistance Program of support and preventive services available for at-risk students.

To learn more and to vote, visit the CAPS website at http://friendsofpubliced.org/unsung-heroes-of-bucks-and-montgomery-county-schools/.

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