On a typical morning at Hockinson Heights Elementary School, Nurse Burkhart begins her day by checking in with students who rely on her for daily health check-ins, morning medications, or help managing chronic conditions. From there, she visits classrooms, the lunchroom, and playgrounds to support students through situations ranging from scraped knees to seizure disorders, and everything in between. On any given day, the HHES health room welcomes roughly 60 to 80 students. Two weeks ago, Burkhart received 89 visits in a single day - a new record!
Burkhart has been a nurse for eight years, all within school settings, and she spent the last year caring for students at Hockinson High School. This fall, she joined the HHES Nursing Team, a meaningful step for someone who once walked these halls as a student. “This is the school I went to as a child, and it is truly special to serve the community that raised me,” she said.
That personal connection is part of what motivates Burkhart each day. Growing up in Hockinson, she now gets to care for the next generation of learners, including her own child, who started at Hockinson Heights this year. Burkhart works on campus Monday through Wednesday, while Nurse Molly Scott serves on Thursday, and Nurse Lynn Anderson covers Fridays. As an aside, Anderson joined the Hockinson School District Nursing Team this year and serves as the high school’s primary nurse.
That means only one nurse is available each day to serve the elementary school’s population of over 900 students. The nursing trio manages this responsibility through close collaboration, detailed communication, and a shared dedication. On busy days, Burkhart walks over 13,000 steps just moving around campus to meet students’ medical needs.
By late morning, Nurse Burkhart is often in motion across campus from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., supporting students where they are. Burkhart is quick to credit health room aide Julie Nielsen for making that possible. “Without her help, none of this job would even be possible,” Burkhart emphasized. “Julie keeps everything running smoothly while I’m out meeting students’ needs.”
Her days are fast-paced, but Burkhart finds meaning in every interaction. “Elementary kids have this amazing ability to lift your spirits with just a smile or a hug,” she said. “They’re honest, curious, and full of little gems of wisdom—if you take the time to listen!”
At Hockinson Heights Elementary School, Burkhart’s steady presence helps students feel safe and focused on learning. This is one of many ways Hockinson Schools invests in the health and wellness of each student to support their daily health, learning, and lifelong success.