By DHEC and SC Dept. of Education
GREENVILLE COUNTY – Sharon Lothridge, a nurse supervisor for Greenville County Schools, has earned the Dee Dee Chewning award for outstanding administrative leadership by South Carolina DHEC and the State Department of Education.
Nurse Lothridge has served students for 28 years, and has served as a school nurse administrator for 20 years. Lothridge began her school nursing career with Anderson School District One and later joined the Greenville County Schools nursing team. She currently supervises 32 nurses who care for students in 27 schools.
Lothridge is a strong leader with integrity, courage, initiative, energy, optimism, determination, self-awareness, and the ability to handle stress. A strong supporter of school nurses, Lothridge assisted with revisions to the school nurse evaluation tool to facilitate an opportunity for self-reflection and growth. She was on the team that developed a nurse staffing model based on acuity levels, and initiated a process for selecting a School Nurse (RN) and School Health LPN of the Year at the district level.
Lothridge organizes professional development opportunities and provides a school nurse calendar for Greenville County school nurses outlining duties to be completed each month and tips for special activities.
At the state level, Lothridge was instrumental in establishing the SC Association of School Nurses, served as the Association’s first president, and has maintained involvement by holding a variety of key leadership positions. She worked with the SC Board of Nursing School Nurse Work Group to develop Advisory Opinions and Position Statements to clarify expectations for school nursing practice and has served for many years as a member of School Nurse Program Advisory Committee.
Nurse Lothridge is well known and respected across the nation, being tapped by Presidents of the National Association of School Nurses on two occasions to assist with strategic planning and other activities to assure the health and longevity of the Association.
