Superintendent earns healthy schools award
By From staff reports
Published in News on November 16, 2010 1:46 PM
Dr. Steven Taylor, superintendent of Wayne County Public Schools, was named the 2010 North Carolina Healthy Schools Superintendent of the Year for his leadership, support and commitment to coordinated school health programs across the district.
The award was presented Friday during the North Carolina Alliance for Athletics, Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance convention held in Winston-Salem.
Taylor had a conflict preventing his attendance, so the award was accepted by Rick Pridgen, school board chairman, and Pridgen's wife, Allison, director of student support services.
In recent years, the district has implemented several healthy schools initiatives, including WISH, or Wayne Initiative for School Health, centers located in six schools, a school nursing program that features 18 registered nurses obtained through Wayne Memorial Hospital, having RN/social worker teams in five schools and diabetes care managers in all the schools. The First Responders Program also assists students and staff with medical emergencies, while healthier choices have been added to the schools' menus.
Taylor credited area groups and agencies with making the initiatives possible, including the hospital, the district's School Health Advisory Council, Communities in Schools, Goldsboro Pediatrics, Wayne Community College, Health Department, the Family YMCA, Wayne County Department of Social Services, Eastpointe, Boys and Girls Club and the American Red Cross.
"Each of these entities have contributed extensively to the heavy lifting that is required to achieve success and we will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our community partners as we address our health and wellness priorities among school children," he said.