Speltz’s background helps as elementary school nurse


Jennifer Speltz is the PreK-4th grade school nurse for the MCSD. Speltz enjoys seeing the students every day, and works hard to make sure their health and medical needs are being met. (Photo by Kim Brooks)
Panther Professionals
By: 
Kim Brooks
Express Editor

     Panther Professionals is a weekly series highlighting educators, administrators, staff and aides who are dedicated to the future of the Monticello Community School District.

     Monticello Elementary School Nurse Jennifer Speltz credits the secretaries of both Carpenter and Shannon schools for making her work life easier.

     “They are my eyes and ears when I’m not in the building every day,” she said.

     Speltz is the PreK-4th grade school nurse, working part of her day in both elementary school buildings in Monticello. She’s held this job for three years. Speltz’s first year on the job involved working in three district buildings, including the high school. Now, the MCSD has two full-time school nurses, Speltz and Jodi Heinrich.

     When asked what her job entails, Speltz’s quick reaction was simply, “Oh my gosh!” Clearly there is more to the job than meets the eye.

     “The biggest part of my job is to make sure the kids’ health needs are being met,” she shared.

     Speltz said children seem to have more complex health needs today than years past. Some of those health needs include food allergies, special education needs, seizure disorders, diabetes, and asthma.

     It’s not uncommon for Speltz to see anywhere between 20 and 40 students a day, depending on their health needs and concerns.

     “It typically depends on the time of the year,” she said, with cold and flu season upon us.

     Speltz’s job also involves maintaining the students’ emergency and health plans.

     “It’s all about keeping the kids safe and healthy at school,” she said. These plans are part of the students’ offical records, listing emergency contacts, doctors’ information, medical background, etc. Speltz explained the information contained within the health plans are known to not only the school nurse, but the school secretary, teachers and associates, anyone who would have contact with a particular student on a daily basis.

     “We all need to be on the same page,” she said in terms of the students’ health needs.

     If Speltz is away from one of the schools, both school secretaries (Sandy Hinrichs and Cindy Plumber) are med-certified to give out medications if needed.

     The fall and winter seem to bring on multiple illnesses, and Speltz said she is also tasked with tracking those illnesses. If over 10 percent of a school’s daily attendance is absent, she finds out why and reports it to the state health department.

     “That’s why we ask parents when they call their child in sick what their son/daughter has,” she said of tracking contagious illnesses.

     This type of incident has not happened in Monticello recently, but Speltz said the most common outbreak is typically influenza.

     At the beginning of every school year, all incoming kindergarten students are required to have certain immunizations, dental screenings, lead screenings, and physicals before they can start school.

     “I spend the first month of the school year getting the paperwork in order and making sure we have what we need,” she said of the busy start to the school year.

     Speltz earned her BSN (bachelor of science in nursing) from Mount Mercy University. She worked for seven years at St. Luke’s Hospital in labor and delivery. From there, she spent five years in the ER at Jones Regional Medical Center in Anamosa.

     “That was a great stepping stone,” she said. “You learn about assessments and triage.” Speltz said she felt that experience, in a way, prepared her for her current job.

     Originally from Monticello, Speltz said it’s nice to be working in a school district she’s obviously quite familiar with.

     “I went to school here and know the district,” she said.

     Speltz and her husband, Mark, lived in Marion when their first child was born. Shortly after that they moved back to Monticello.

     “I wanted to raise my kids around our family,” she said. “Monticello is a great place to raise a family.”

     Speltz said working for a school district allows her to have the same schedule as her young kids, having holidays off and spending summers together.

     “I like being local,” she said.

     For Speltz, the best part of the job is seeing the students every day.

     “The kids say hi to me every day,” she said.

     Speltz acts as a resource for the MCSD families, too. She said if a family has a need such as eyeglasses or winter clothing, she tries to help fulfill that need.

     “We have a great community here who supports the district as a whole,” she praised.

     The Speltz family, including sixth-grader Peyton and third-grader Marissa, enjoy spending their free time together outdoors. Speltz said they visit the state parks and go hiking when possible.

     “We just enjoy sports of all kinds,” she said.

     They also have family movie nights.

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