October 6, 2021 Issue, Page 15 of 26

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Hometown Heroes | October 2021 PG15 Thank You School Staff! For Elk City school nurse, COVID uckett’s “changed everything” FOOD STORES tions. I also spend a lot oftime in class- always knew that Elk City was a won- BEST MEAT GUARANTEED rooms providing health related education derful community but that getting to be to students and staff.” a school nurse and by extension “being 407 N. 4th Street, Sayre Ofcourse, it’s no surprise that the CO- able to see how people come together to 123 N. Sheb Wooley Ave, Erick VID-19 pandemic had a massive impact help kids in need” has really reinforced that fact for her. She shares that it’s a puckettsfoodstores.com on her job. In fact, Marks says, “COVID has changed every aspect ofnursing! The blessing to be able to be a voice for a majority of my day is now spent taking child when they need it. Yawk You Ts COVID related phone calls, administer- ing COVID testing, reporting the results, When asked what her favorite thing about being a school nurse is, Marks Our School Staff! contact tracing and notifying parents of exposures.” All of these new tasks, she shared, “I love getting to see all the kids all the time! I really thought that the little says, “makes it very difficult to get into ones would be my favorite, they always Sayre Floral the classrooms to educate and spend time with the kids.” have a hug and a drawing for me and are always excited to see me, but I have New Owner - Kristin Seymour Aside from her responsibilities at found that I enjoy every age!” She con- 205 E. Main St., Sayre, OK Lindsay Marks work, Marks is very involved with the tinued, “Each group of kids is different community including volunteering for and has different needs. I enjoy going to 580.928.3355 By Burgundy Lee Hanrahan CASA and also the medical component talk to the middle school and high school M-F 9-5 ¢ Sat 9-2 ofthe START CAC, which she says she’s kids just as much as I enjoy teaching the Lindsay Marks is not only a school very passionate about. She says that she elementary students.” hero but also a healthcare hero! She says that she has been a nurse for 11 years, Want to follow in a similar path’? 5 the first nine of which were spent work- ing in the ICU and ER. She transitioned U.S. workers faced un- workers quit their jobs in Schools and daycares to being a school nurse when she started precedented challenges April and May, according everywhere urgently need at Elk City Public Schools almost three this past year. Millions to the Bureau of Labor new talent, as a record years ago, where she says she spends a of Americans lost their Statistics. number of educators are BBQ. GRILL lot of her time at the elementary school jobs, were forced out of Those who have lost, among those who have left OPEN TUES-SAT 11A-8:30P but “really I work at every building in the the labor force to care for have left or are thinking their jobs to care for their SUNDAY 11A-3P CLOSED MONDAY district.” Marks explains, “As a school dependents or resigned to of leaving their job might own children or chose ear- re-evaluate what kind of want to consider a mean- ly retirement. While this 580-210-0076 nurse, I assess children that have injuries www.facebook.com/ScreaminJackOK or become sick while at school and mon- career they really want. ingful career in the class- puts the education system located in Sayre, behind Hutch’s A staggering 7.5 million room. See Path page 16. itor students with chronic health condi- We want to thank all our hank you Thank You Educators! educatore for teaching our a ostors! _ future future generations! Cyclye ATVa8.r McAl [3 InterBank 625 N. VanBuren 109 N. Main St, Elk City EIk City, OK 580-225-5155 580-225-6043 Gis pic 1620 W. 3rd St, Elk City 580-225-5580+ 123 W. Main St, Sayre 580-928-5511