NC Healthy Schools

Healthy Children Learn Better!

Children sitting on a ball field.NC Healthy Schools focuses on improving the health of students and staff by providing coordination and resources within the context of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model. The goal is to create students who are healthier, in school, in class, and ready to learn. Students who are healthier are more alert, more focused on learning, and miss less school. They not only learn better in every class, but they also learn lifelong healthy behaviors. It just makes sense.

Vision

NC students, staff, and families are healthy, safe, supported, engaged, and prepared for future success.

Mission

Provide support to schools and community stakeholders so they can promote the health, well-being, and success of NC students and staff.

How We Do It

We use the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) framework, and related best practices, to guide our partnerships, priorities, products, and recommendations.

School-Based Mental Health Policy

In June of 2020, Session Law 2020-7 was approved by the North Carolina General Assembly. It is an act to require the state board of education to adopt a school-based mental health policy and to require k-12 school units to adopt and to implement a school-based mental health plan that includes a mental health training program and a suicide risk referral protocol.

School-Based Mental Health Policy Compliance

 

The NC Healthy Schools Team

Ellen Essick, Ph.D.
Section Chief for NC Healthy Schools
ellen.essick@dpi.nc.gov
984-236-2818

Heidi Austin, EdD, MCHES®, CFLE
Project Aware Director
heidi.austin@dpi.nc.gov
984-236-2563

Kisha Bryant, Ed.D
School Counseling Consultant
kisha.bryant@dpi.nc.gov
984-236-2820 

Megan Cardin
School Psychology Consultant
megan.cardin@dpi.nc.gov
984-236-2812 

Bernadette Cole
Administrative Specialist for NC Healthy Schools
bernadette.cole@dpi.nc.gov
984-236-2822 

Jennifer Corso
School Nurse Consultant
Jennifer.Corso@dhhs.nc.gov
984-275-9806 

Burt Jenkins
Healthful Living / Athletics Consultant
Burt.Jenkins@dpi.nc.gov
984-236-2816 

Pachovia Lovett
School Social Work Consultant
Pachovia.Lovett@dpi.nc.gov
984-236-2821 

Lillian Pinto
Reproductive Health Consultant
Lillian.Pinto@dpi.nc.gov
984-236-2819 

Lisa Queen
Healthy Schools Consultant
Lisa.Queen@dpi.nc.gov 

Susanne Schmal
School Health Partnerships and Policy Consultant
Susanne.Schmal@dpi.nc.gov
984-236-2817 

Les Spell
Data and Policy Consultant
Les.Spell@dpi.nc.gov
984-236-2815 

 

Information and Resources

For more information about the work of the Healthy Schools Team and to browse resources, visit our subpages below or on the side-rail:

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