(Posted Jan. 22, 2016)
Linda Ward, school nurse at Shekinah Christian School in Plain City, is retiring on Jan. 29 after 20 years of service.
The school invites the public to an open house in Ward’s honor set for 2 p.m. Jan. 29. The event will start with a short presentation followed by cake and punch. Attendees are encouraged to bring cards with notes of appreciation.
Ward worked at Madison County Hospital for two years before becoming a school nurse in 1994. Hired by Madison County, she served seven schools including Jonathan Alder, Plainview and Shekinah. While the county was technically her employer, each school paid the county, and the county in turn paid her salary.
Over the past two decades, Ward said she observed many changes. She has seen an increase in health issues such as diabetes and allergies among students. Documentation has tripled. The required annual report to the State of Ohio includes vision and hearing, immunizations and diabetics. Ward said she will not miss the paperwork but will miss the students and staff.
“I’ve gotten close to a lot of them, have had fun and have met so many wonderful people over the years,” she said. “I never get bored. It’s been a real joy.”
Though she will miss the people, Ward said is is time for someone else “to take the reins.” She participated in the interview process to find her replacement and feels good about the choice, Andrea Spencer.
Ward plans to spend more time with her six grandchildren and three step-grandchildren, as well as work on a house in London that she and her husband, Wally, purchased. They recently sold their house at Lake Choctaw where they had lived for 30 years. They are staying with one of their daughters and her husband and children until they get their fixer-upper livable. The couple has two daughters, one son who is deceased, and besides the grandchildren and step-grandchildren, one great-granddaughter and three step-great grandchildren.
