School nurse retires after 26 years in district

PORT CLINTON – After 26 years in the Port Clinton school district, school nurse Barbara Cammann will be retiring at the end of the school year.

Though Cammann spent a little more than a quarter of a century at Bataan Primary School, she didn’t originally plan to work in a school setting. She began her nursing career in a Cleveland hospital.

“I loved that field,” she said. “I’ve been very fortunate. Every setting I’ve worked in, I’ve loved my job.”

Being a school nurse entails much more than just applying Band-Aids and checking temperatures.

“It’s a very challenging job, because you have to be a jack-of-all-trades. I run the clinic and work with a very diverse population with different illnesses,” she said.

Cammann’s duties begin before the first class starts. Most days, she spends time with the kids who come early for breakfast.

“I see how their health is that day and see if they have any needs. It’s a good way to help them get their day started,” she said. “I try to be very visible throughout the building. The kids know me well, and I know my student population very well.”

One of Cammann’s greatest successes as school nurse has been her efforts to become familiar with the health needs of each child in the school. She uses that knowledge to do everything she can to prevent health problems from disturbing the learning process.

“At this age level, you have to build a health care plan for every child,” she said. “Children need to be healthy to learn. If they are not healthy, they struggle.”

Cammann has worked with children suffering from a variety of illnesses and conditions, from diabetes to epilepsy. One of her most successful strategies toward optimizing the children’s health is her commitment to communicate with both parents and teachers.

“Working closely with parents is very important. I have an open-door policy,” she said. “I meet with teachers so they know exactly what they need to do in the classroom if a student has special needs. I make sure we’re on the same page.”

Cammann said she has very good relationships with the teachers and all of the staff.

“One of the really good things about Port Clinton is the staff — the administration, the teachers, the aides, the custodians, the bus drivers. We all work toward the same goal: the good of the children,” Cammann said. “I’m amazed how well we work together.”

Cammann said the staff does not let a child’s obstacles stop them from doing everything they can to help that child do his or her very best.

“Nobody gives up,” she said. “Our students meet with a lot of success in their educational careers. We’re proud of that, because it starts here. It’s a good school system.”

And a fun job, she says.

“It is a joy working with this age group. It is just fun. They are very honest and give you a good, hearty laugh through the day,” she said. “When I come to school, I’m excited about coming here. Sometimes, when I leave, I’m dead tired but I’m still excited.”

Because she has enjoyed her job so much, retirement was a difficult choice.

“Two years ago, we bought a house in Florida, and my husband is retiring. It was a hard decision. I really wasn’t ready to go,” she said. “I’m going to miss the snow. I’ve decided I’m a northern girl.”

Cammann will keep her hands in nursing, however. She plans to maintain nursing licenses in both Ohio and Florida when she moves to her home on Marco Island.

“I’ll ride my bike, and I’m passionate about finding beach glass. I’ll volunteer in the school system,” she said. “And I’ll do some things out of the box, some things non-nursing-related.”

When she leaves, she’ll be missed.

“Barbara has been a tremendous asset to the school district, not just for the kids, but for the staff and everyone involved,” Superintendent Patrick Adkins said. “She’s one of the nicest people you could meet. Sometimes, I wonder if the kids are really sick or just want to see Mrs. Cammann. She’s always in a good mood and always positive.

“When she retires, she will definitely be sorely missed.”