Health Services
District Nurse Staff Directory
Phone: (760) 247-8001
Fax: (760) 247-7063
Christara Holtgrefe, BSN, RN
ext. 20557
Work Hours: 7:30am- 4:00pm
Office Hours: Varies
Oversees the following school sites:
Apple Valley High School, 11837 Navajo Rd., Apple Valley, CA 92308
Sandia Academy, 21331 Sandia Rd., Apple Valley, CA 92308
Wendy Johnson, BSN, RN
ext. 20558
Work Hours: 7:30am- 4:00pm
Office Hours: Varies
Oversees the following:
Community Schools
Janine Morris, BSN, RN
ext. 20583
Work Hours: 7:30am- 4:00pm
Office Hours: Varies
Oversees the following school sites:
Granite Hills High School, 22900 Esaws Rd., Apple Valley, CA 92307
Sycamore Rocks Elementary School, 23450 South Rd., Apple Valley, CA 92307
Amber Mullinax, MS, RN
Coordinator of Health Services
ext. 20585
Work Hours: 7:00am- 3:30pm
Office Hours: Varies
Miranda Cox, MSN, RN
ext. 20587
Work Hours: 7:30am- 4:00pm
Office Hours: Varies
Oversees the following school sites:
Desert Knolls Elementary School, 18213 Symeron Rd., Apple Valley, CA 92307
High Desert Premier Academy, 21950 Nisqually Rd., Apple Valley, CA 92308
Rio Vista School of Applied Learning, 13590 Havasu Rd., Apple Valley, CA 92308
Megan Pretzer, MSN, RN
ext. 20584
Work Hours: 7:30am- 4:00pm
Office Hours: Varies
Oversees the following school sites:
Rancho Verde Elementary School, 14334 Pioneer Rd., Apple Valley, CA 92307
Vanguard Preparatory, 12951 Mesquite Rd., Apple Valley, CA 92308
Megan Salisbury, BSN, RNC
ext. 20593
Work Hours: 7:30am- 4:00pm
Office Hours: Varies
Oversees the following school sites:
Apple Valley Virtual Academy, 12555 Navajo Rd., Apple Valley, CA 92308
Mariana Academy, 10601 Manhasset Rd., Apple Valley, CA 92308
Sitting Bull Academy, 19445 Sitting Bull Rd., Apple Valley, CA 92308
Ashley Vennes, BSN, RN
ext. 20582
Work Hours: 7:30am- 4:00pm
Office Hours: Varies
Oversees the following school sites:
Phoenix Academy, 20700 Thunderbird Rd., Apple Valley, CA 92307
Yucca Loma Elementary School, 21351 Yucca Loma Rd., Apple Valley, CA 92307
Melissa Wheeler, MSN(c), RN
ext. 20588
Work Hours: 7:30am- 4:00pm
Office Hours: Varies
Oversees the following:
Child Welfare and Attendance Projects
School Nursing Description and Responsibilities
According to the National Association of School Nurses, "School nursing, a specialized practice of nursing, protects and promotes student health, facilitates optimal development, and advances academic success. School nurses, grounded in ethical and evidence-based practice, are the leaders who bridge health care and education, provide care coordination, advocate for quality student-centered care, and collaborate to design systems that allow individuals and communities to develop their full potential." (NASN, 2021)
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:
Coordinates, collaborates and implements mandated School Health Screenings including, but not limited to, vision, hearing, and scoliosis
Prepares and files mandated reporting, as follows:
Annual Kindergarten and 7th Grade Immunization Assessment
Annual Report of Hearing Testing
Annual Report of Oral Health Assessments
Other reports as necessary
Train Senior Health/Medi-Cal Technicians (LVNs) and act as a resource on matters related to their duties including: immunization compliance, health record keeping, administration of first aid, universal precautions, medication administration, communicable disease reporting and exposure notices, and coordination of health screenings
Train employees and coaches in emergency medical interventions for students, as appropriate
Interprets the health and development status and results of medical findings concerning the student and communicates relevant information to the appropriate school personnel.
Confers with family health care provider, as appropriate and needed, concerning the health and development status of students
Serves as a member of the IEP team, as needed, when health issues are identified
Plans actions for eliminating, minimizing or accepting health conditions that interfere with student's learning and motivates and guides the persons responsible for student's health to appropriate resources
Serves as a liaison to the parents, school, and community in health matters
Provides information to children and/or their parents about the Medi-Cal system and where and how to access applications
Serves as health consultant and resources to teachers in health education and growth and development curriculum
School Health-Related School Board Policies
AR 5141.31 Immunizations- provides information regarding required immunizations, exemptions, conditional enrollment, exclusions due to lack of immunizations, exclusions due to exposure of disease, records, and audits.
BP 5141.33 Head Lice- provides information on how to manage students found with active head lice.
AR 5141.1 Accidents, Ill and Injured Students- provides information on procedures for either a major injury or emergency illness, basic criteria for calling 911/paramedics, list of items to include when calling 911/paramedics, guidelines for determining when a student should be sent home, transportation of ill/injured students, when an ill student may return to school, and accident/injury reports.
Health Forms
Permission to Dispense Medication at School- Form needed for administration of medication to students
Asthma Action Plan- Additional detailed order for treating asthma at school
Allergy Action Plan- Additional detailed orders for treating severe allergies at school
Allergy Verification Form- Form to verify student allergies
Allergy Release Form- Form to acknowledge that allergies are no longer an issue
Authorization for Use or Disclosure of Health Information to School Districts- Medical release to communicate with student's healthcare provider
Medical Statement to Request Special Meals and/or Accommodations- Form needed to accommodate food allergies or other medical conditions
Parental Request for a Fluid Milk Substitution for School-Age Children / Spanish- Form for students who are unable to tolerate traditional cow's milk
Seizure Action Plan- Specific orders on how to treat a student's seizure disorder at school
Screenings
Vision Screenings
Each student's vision shall be appraised by the school nurse, or other personnel authorized under Education Code 49452, during the kindergarten year or upon first enrollment or entry in a district elementary school and subsequently in grades 2, 5, and 8. The vision appraisal shall include tests for visual acuity, including near vision. Male students shall also be tested once for color vision in grade 1 or later and the results of the appraisal shall be entered in the student's health record (Education Code 49455).
Hearing Screenings
Each student shall be given a hearing screening test in the following grades (17 CCR 2951): 2, 5, 8, 10, or 11, and upon first entry into the California public school system. Each student enrolled in a special education program, other than those enrolled because of a hearing problem, shall be given a hearing test when enrolled in the program and every third year thereafter. Hearing tests may be given more frequently as needed, based on the individualized education program team's evaluation of the student (17 CCR 2951). A follow-up hearing threshold test shall be administered to any student who failed to respond to any of the required frequencies in the screening test or is otherwise determined to need further evaluation (17 CCR 2951).
Resources
Local Health Resources
San Bernardino County Department of Public Health- Hesperia Health Center
16453 Bear Valley Rd., Hesperia, CA 92345
This clinic gives immunizations at a low cost, or free, depending on each family's ability to pay. Please call (800) 722-4777 for an appointment. The Hesperia Health Center is open from 8:00am to 5:00pm.
Child Health and Disability Prevention Program can also help uninsured children receive well-child care. Please call (800) 722-3777 for an appointment.
Resources for Chronic Health Conditions
Medi-Cal Resources
Health Promotion Information
Employee Resources
Teacher/Staff Requests for Student Hearing and Vision Screenings