Red Bank Primary School Nurse Named ‘Unsung Superhero In Education’

RED BANK, NJ — A Red Bank Primary School nurse was recently honored as an “unsung hero” in education with an award from the NJ School Boards Association, Superintendent Dr. Jared Rumage said.

On Tuesday, Oct. 21, Red Bank Primary School Nurse Cathleen Reardon received the NJSBA Unsung Superhero in Education Award at the New Jersey School Board’s Annual Conference in Atlantic City.

The Unsung Superhero program celebrates the “invaluable contributions of school district staff…[who] work tirelessly behind the scenes, often without recognition or thanks, to ensure that our schools run smoothly and provide a safe and nurturing environment for our students.”

“In the Red Bank Borough Public Schools, we strive to be the best school district in America so we can be certain we are the best for the students, families and community,” Superintendent Rumage said. “No one embodies this spirit or mindset more than Nurse Cathy Reardon!”

Affectionately known as “Nurse Cathy” by community members, Reardon has been the school nurse at Red Bank Primary School since 2013, bringing with her years of experience in the pediatrics department at a major local hospital.

As a dedicated member of the school staff, Reardon is constantly thinking of what can be done to improve the general health and well-being of students, their families, and Red Bank staff and community as a whole, school officials said.

With an extensive knowledge base in various nursing skills, child development and rules/regulations in the medical field, officials described Reardon as a “professional in all that she does,” who always keeps a child’s best interest in mind.

School officials went on to say that Reardon’s office is filled with positive quotes and messages for students, and that she works with outside partners to ensure every need is met, even for those who have a financial or language challenge.

These partners include Tender Smiles, Horizons, United Way, Riverview Medical Center, Bridge of Books, the Visiting Nurses Association and other organizations that help support the health and general well-being of Red Bank students and families.

“Nurse Cathy is the epitome of a professional. When called upon by a student, staff, admin, or families, she always makes herself available,” school officials said. “She is always patient and, in many cases, is a mother figure to our students. Through her many connections, she ensures our students have all they require.”

Officials went on to say that the Health Office is a place where all stakeholders feel safe thanks to the environment established by Reardon, and that she goes "above and beyond educating students, families and staff on how to live a healthy and safe life."

Alongside Reardon's recent Unsung Superhero Award, she also received the MCEA 2015 Friends of Education Award and was named the 2020 Educational Services Professional of the Year for the district.

Today, she runs the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Grant program in conjunction with the Chartwells Food Service Staff to increase a healthier lifestyle by introducing more fruits and vegetables to all students.

Under her guidance, the Primary School won first place in 2017 in the grant’s annual award, officials said. Reardon provides weekly information to the staff to promote healthy eating as part of their lessons.

“Nurse Cathy’s impact reaches far beyond the nurse’s office,” Red Bank Primary School Principal Maria Iozzi said. “She can always be found supporting medically fragile students, coordinating on-site dental and vision care, assisting with our Fresh Fruits and Vegetables program, working with students in the garden, and connecting our families to essential community resources.”

“Her office is a safe haven, her smile is healing, and her commitment to the well-being of every child and family is unmatched,” Iozzi continued.

To learn more about the NJ School Boards Association, you can click here. To learn more about Reardon and her recent achievement, you can click here.