Westfield School Nurse Manager nationally recognized for excellence in school nursing administration

Submitted by Westfield Washington Schools

Westfield Washington Schools’ (WWS) Manager of School Nurses Teresa Layton has been recognized with the Excellence in School Nursing Award as the 2026 School Nurses Administrator, representing Indiana at the national level after being nominated by the Indiana Association of School Nurses.

Layton received the honor during the National Association of School Nurses Annual Conference, where one school nurse and one school nurse administrator from each state is recognized for significant impact throughout the 2025-2026 school year for students, staff, and the community. It also recognizes outstanding leadership, professional excellence, and contributions to the field of school nursing.

Layton was nominated anonymously for the national award, recognizing her leadership, mentorship, and dedication to advancing school nursing. She will also be honored this fall at the Indiana Association of School Nurses conference.

While the recognition honors Layton individually, she views it as a reflection of the entire WWS nursing team and its shared commitment to providing exceptional care for students.

“I just feel like it demonstrates a high level of training for the school nurses because we really try to be front and center and make sure we’re using research-based information,” Layton said.

That commitment to excellence begins with continuous learning. Every WWS school nurse is a registered nurse (RN) who regularly participates in specialized professional development to stay current on the latest research, best practices, and advances in student health care.

“Medicine is changing all the time,” Layton said. “Making sure we’re on the forefront of that information, that we’re trained and know how to use it, is really important.”

Throughout the year, WWS nurses complete ongoing training through organizations including the Indiana Department of Education and the Epilepsy Foundation. Recent professional learning has focused on diabetes management, asthma care, seizure recognition and emergency response, and anaphylaxis treatment, including training on newly available nasal epinephrine.

As the district continues to grow, Layton says her team has embraced every opportunity to expand its knowledge and better support students.

“We’re striving to find ways to keep students healthy and ready to learn,” Layton said. “Every time new training becomes available, we complete it to make sure we’re up to date. I feel like our nurses are continually increasing their knowledge and strengthening the level of care we provide across our schools.”

That commitment extends beyond common medical conditions. When a student has a rare or unfamiliar health need, the WWS nursing team partners with healthcare providers to ensure every student receives safe, informed, and individualized care.

“If there’s a condition that a child has that we’re not familiar with, Riverview is really good about providing education or helping us connect with experts who can guide us,” Layton said. “We want to know how to care for the child, but also what teachers need to know to best support them in the classroom. We’re constantly learning so we can provide the best care possible.”

Layton also recognized Riverview Health for providing the district’s nurses via its partnership with WWS. Additionally, Riverview invests in those nurses through opportunities like a scholarship allowing four WWS school nurses to attend this year’s Indiana Association of School Nurses conference, participating in two days of professional development and expert-led learning.

Dr. Ryan Hoover, WWS Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, said the recognition reflects the impact Layton has across the district.

“Teresa is a dynamic leader not only for the WWS nursing staff but for the entire district,” Hoover said. “She blends the perfect amount of knowledge and skill with collaboration and support. She oversees and mentors our health professionals while providing ongoing support for our schools, students, and parents. She is an exemplary leader and very deserving of this award.”