*BCSD Nurse*
By: Grace Paul
October 9, 2026
Chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight is Mrs. Lavinder, first-year nurse in the Brooklyn City School District. Previously, Mrs. Lavinder was the school nurse at Cloverleaf Schools, located in Seville. An interesting fact about her is that she has been a school nurse for 13 total years.
Q. What makes Brooklyn different from other districts?
A. “The diversity that the families and students bring to Brooklyn make it very special. Not only are there so many different cultures to learn from, but there are many students with varying abilities, talents, and visions about how they want to be seen.”
Q. What is your favorite part about your job? What’s the most challenging?
A. “Easily, the best part of my job is helping any student become independent with their health care needs. It can be something as simple as helping a first grade student learn to wash out their own playground wounds with soap and water before they apply the bandaid. Or, it can be as complex as helping a student work through the steps of their diabetes care. Independence is so important! At this moment, the most challenging part of the job is not being as familiar with the students and staff as I wish. However, I know that will get better with time. For now, I rely on the clinic aides Miss Erin and Mrs. Cutright to help me figure out who is who and where things are. I would be lost without them!”
Q. What is one thing you wish all students knew about your job in the school clinic?
A. “One, I wish students didn’t try to use the clinic as a free pass to go home. We are here to help them stay in school. That is the goal. Two, I’ve been a nurse for too many years and a school nurse for 13 years. I’ve seen a lot. Not much shocks me anymore. If you’ve made a bad decision that has affected your health, just be honest. I can help you much faster. Three, there’s no such thing as using too much soap.”
Q. What is your favorite part of working with kids and teenagers every day?
A. “There are some kids I get to see every day to help them meet their health needs. I enjoy those everyday relationships. I like getting to know the students beyond what they come into the clinic for. I enjoy learning from them and the good conversations.”
Q. What is your favorite activity to do outside of school?
A. “I love to go places I’ve never been before! I enjoy hiking, and any day at the beach is a great day.”
Q. What is your go-to meal?
A. “Full disclosure, I am not a good cook. However, I am getting pretty good at a shrimp, broccoli, and pasta dish with lots of butter, garlic, and lemon juice. When I cook, it’s never the same thing twice because I usually make it up as I go.”
Q. What’s the best piece of advice anyone ever gave you?
A. “First things first, I think it’s easy to get caught up in the big goal and that can be overwhelming. If I set lots of smaller goals and accomplish them step-by-step, I get to celebrate the little things more often.”
Q. Do you enjoy working with your husband everyday?
A. “I enjoy that he drives me to-and-from work every day! I don’t really see him much during the day.”
Q. What kind of books do you turn to when you want to relax?
A. “I love to read. I’m currently on book #26 for the year. The best book I’ve read recently is My Friends by Fredrik Backman. My favorite all-time classic is To Kill A Mockingbird.”
Thank you for your responses, Mrs. Lavinder. I wish you all the best in your first full year as a nurse here in the Brooklyn City School District.
