Amy McAteer-Jones named UCPS 2025–2026 School Nurse of the Year

A career defined by care, prevention and connection

On National School Nurse Day, observed during National Nurses Week (May 6–12), Union County Public Schools recognized a nurse whose nearly two decades of service have supported students, families and staff across the district.

Amy McAteer-Jones, a registered nurse who serves students at East Elementary School and Prospect Elementary School, was named the district’s 2025–2026 School Nurse of the Year. The honor reflects both her clinical expertise and her daily commitment to helping students feel safe, supported and ready to learn.

When students walk through her door, they hear a simple question:

“How can I help you?”

The phrase reflects a philosophy rooted in compassion, dignity and the belief that children must learn to be healthy and be healthy to learn.

“Health is the best form of wealth,” she said, emphasizing her focus on prevention and access to care in schools.

For McAteer-Jones, school nursing extends far beyond treating illness.

“I knew that I needed to teach people how to be healthy,” she said. “In schools, you can start when kids are young, teaching the importance of health, physical activity and education. The cornerstone of our health is education and knowing how to be healthy.”

She began her career in hospital and clinical settings before turning toward prevention and education, seeking to help people build healthier lives before medical crises occur. That path led her to school nursing, where she found the intersection of public health, education and community care.

A graduate of Sun Valley High School and a lifelong Union County resident, McAteer-Jones said serving her home community has made the work especially meaningful.

“It has always been a family affair,” she said, noting her mother also worked for the county and her sister teaches in UCPS. “We love our county and our work family.”

Today, she supports students in ways that often go unseen, including managing chronic health conditions, developing individualized care plans, leading staff training, coordinating with families, mentoring nurses and connecting students with needed resources.

That work reflects a broader truth about school nursing. As last year’s School Nurse of the Year, Charliee Williams told attendees at the recognition ceremony, school nurses care for “the whole child, the whole family and the whole community.” They often are among the first to recognize when symptoms signal something deeper, such as stress, anxiety or challenges at home.

Those needs can surface in simple ways, such as a stomachache or headache without a clear cause. In those moments, McAteer-Jones said, school nursing is as much about listening and reassurance as treatment.

“I’ve had students come back and say, ‘Thank you for taking care of me,’” she said. “Thank you for respecting my privacy in a critical moment.”

Her service extends beyond campus. McAteer-Jones has held leadership roles with the School Nurse Association of North Carolina, including president, and works to strengthen school health programs statewide. She is also learning Spanish to improve communication with families.

McAteer-Jones was selected from finalists that included Amy Ashton of Fairview Elementary School and Julie Hewett of Waxhaw Elementary School, both recognized for exceptional care and service.

For McAteer-Jones, the recognition is meaningful, but it reflects a larger team.

“I work with so many awesome, outstanding nurses,” she said. “To be chosen as one of all of us is truly an honor.”

Then she added:

“There is no better job than being a school nurse.”