Alaska School Nurses Association

Congratulations to Kathleen Easley for the 2019 School Nurse of Excellence Award (SNEA) Recipient

Posted almost 5 years ago by Annette Johansen


The 2019 recipient of the School Nurse Excellence in Alaska award is Kathleen Easley, BSN, RN, NCSN. Kathleen has been a school nurse in the Anchorage School District (ASD) since 2011, nationally certified since 2015, and currently the nurse for Gladys Wood Elementary. 

At her school, she is Child in Transition coordinator, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum coordinator, Student Assistance Team member, officer in the Parent Teacher Organization, creator and organizer of a holiday food and gift program, past team organizer for Walk to Cure for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and served as food pantry coordinator for Food Bank of Alaska Knowledge Needs Nutrition Program.

Research and critical thinking form an integral part of her professional school nursing practice. She researched chronic absenteeism, implementing interventions reducing absenteeism. She collected data for the Kidney Foundation Kids in the Kitchen program at her school then coordinated this program in ASD for two years.  She collaborated with the school counselor researching and planning classroom educational sessions on mindfulness and meditation.  She participates in the HPV Stakeholder Cancer Work Group that educates families about human papillomavirus (HPV).

Collegially, she contributes to the nursing profession as member of the ASD Nurse Leadership Team, as secretary for the Alaska School Nurse Association (ASNA) since 2017, and as mentor to nursing students from the University of Alaska Anchorage and Charter College.  She was committee chair for the 2018 ASNA conference.  She is an Alaska Respond Volunteer.    

Recommendations noted her “passion and selflessness” and her to be the “model of the 21stcentury nurse.”  A parent wrote “She has a special place in our hearts and always will.” 

Kathleen’s work is a testament of how the science and art of school nursing come together to positively impact not only her school community but the greater Alaska community as well.

Join us in congratulating Kathy for this great accomplishment!