Huron High School school nurse Ann Burdick grew up in Toledo. She and her three brothers and three sisters were raised by educators; her father taught high school history, then was a high school guidance counselor; her mother taught elementary students, mostly 4th graders.
She attended a Catholic grade school, followed by a diverse public high school. She then went on to Bowling Green State University for her bachelor’s degree, followed by the University of Toledo for her master’s degree.
Burdick worked as a staff nurse at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital for 15 years on various units: General medicine, then the Newborn Nursery, then Mother/Baby, then the Pediatric Emergency Urgent Care (PEUC), aka the “ER for kids.”
She then went into school nursing, working for three years at Willow Run Community Schools until she was one of more than 20 other staff members laid off in 2003. In August of 2003, she started as an AAPS nurse.
Burdick has worked at Huron High School for the last six years. Previously, she worked at the following AAPS Schools: Stone, Pittsfield, Bryant, Allen, Roberto Clemente, Thurston, Logan, Lawton, Carpenter, and Pattengill.
AAPS school nurse Kristin Mahler says that Burdick has been a role model for the AAPS school nurses. “She is always available to newer nurses, imparting her wisdom and experiences,” says Mahler. “She embodies the professionalism of a School Nurse and does so with dedication, putting in extra time to ensure the health and safety of all students.”
AAPS school nurse Erica Brenner says that Burdick exemplifies the highest standards of dedication, professionalism, and compassion.
“Through her unwavering commitment to student health and well-being, she has been a steady, trusted presence,” says Brenner. “Nurse Ann is, in every sense, the heart of Huron High School.”
Burdick says she is blessed to have four grown children, all with wonderful spouses/partners, and two grandsons, Rowan and Lorenzo. She and her husband Fred are longtime Ypsilanti residents. She looks forward to retirement at the end of this school year.
After 22 years as an AAPS school nurse, what changes have you seen in student health needs and concerns?
Just like everything in our world, it has “sped up.” Technology has increased, health care needs of students have increased, and the acuity of health care needs has increased. COVID-19 was a HUGE challenge that changed the landscape, and distrust and division increased.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of serving the AAPS community?
I’ve really enjoyed seeing the growth of the students, especially the ones I’ve interacted with as grade schoolers. It’s like someone “watered them” and they “grew.”
Why did you leave the hospital setting for the schools, and are you happy you did?
I chose to leave the hospital setting for two reasons:
1: I enjoy public health, and believe you can make a bigger, preventative impact when dealing with the larger community. That led me back to school to earn my Master’s degree in Science & Education in Public Health. Plus, with my parents being educators, schools were always a large part of my life.
2: My husband & I both worked at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital for several years when they announced that health care post-retirement was going to be non-existent for us. That pushed me to change employers. Since I wanted to leap into a community setting anyway, we decided I would make a change and apply for a school nurse position.
Looking back, yes, I do think it was a good decision. I’ve had many, many great experiences with students & their families & plus have worked with many great coworkers
Those who work in education truly “touch the future.” I hope I’ve made it easier and safer for health-impacted students to attend school, as well as promoted good health for all.
Could you share a particularly memorable experience that illustrates the impact of your work here?
A student with a lifelong health condition had a lot of challenges at their AAPS middle school. Upon coming to Huron High School, I wiped the slate clean and restarted with respect for the family and student. The student has thrived and has done very well with managing their chronic health condition. The mom has thanked me more than once. It makes my heart proud—Huron High School has done well by this student!
I’ve been honored to hear from parents of incoming health-impacted students that I’ve cared for in elementary schools: “Ann, I’m so glad you are the nurse at Huron High School.” That warms my heart and never gets old!
I have a student who had a feeding tube in grade school. Upon entering 9th grade at Huron High School, both the student and his mom expressed happiness at having me serve them as the nurse. When I told them that I was retiring, they told me they were sorry to not have me next year, but wished me well. I am going to miss not seeing this student on a daily basis.
How has the role of a school nurse evolved since you first came to work for AAPS?
The role of a school nurse has greatly expanded over my 25 years of working in the schools, which coincides with the increased medical needs of students. Dictated by Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) and Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), more students who have daily medical needs are in general education classrooms. Those students need and deserve to be safe and cared for while attending school. Planning for and executing that daily care is challenging, especially when the school nurse is not at that building.
What health trends among teenagers have you found most concerning throughout your career?
Technology is wonderful, except when it is too much. I am concerned about the screen time of our students. The phone/computer screens seem to be a constant and unhealthy pull on a great number of people (students and adults alike).
Safety threats (like mass shootings, road rage, fentanyl lacings, vaping, etc.) were not a big concern in the past—now we have to have protections against all of that. As Mother Teresa said, we need to remember that we all belong to each other.
What advice would you give to a nurse just starting in a school environment?
Listen to your families of health-impacted students, and learn from them. They are the true experts of their own health journeys. Be new when you are new, and lean on the strong support of fellow school nurses—AAPS has a great team of highly experienced nurses.
How do you approach building trust with students who might be hesitant to discuss sensitive health issues?
Listen to the concern/issue. Know that bottom line, each person is in charge of their own health. Normalize the issue, if possible—most things have come up for others way before you.
Outside of work, what activities or hobbies do you enjoy pursuing?
I enjoy nature, reading, puzzling, traveling, connecting with friends/loved ones, and new experiences. I’m also trying to become better at speaking/understanding Spanish.
Favorite podcast, book, local restaurant?
I am a loyal National Public Radio (NPR, 89.1 FM, 91.7 FM) listener—I like unbiased, reliable news. I’ve learned a lot from Fr. Mike Schmitz’s “Bible in a Year” podcast—after all, the Bible is “THE Good Book.” I like to listen to random podcasts that I come upon about subjects of interest to me.
As you approach retirement, what will you miss most about working at Huron High School?
I will miss the regular interactions with valued AAPS coworkers, students, and their families.
What are your plans for this next chapter of your life after you retire?
I look forward to the gift of timelessness, “relaxed starts” in the morning, time to pursue interests that come up, more time for community involvement, and travel (to see my adult children and their families in Washington DC, Texas, California, and Mexico) and to other places of interest/fun. I hope to adopt a pet sometime after retirement. Since my husband Fred has said no to a dog, maybe a lovable cat is in our future.
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