The Heart of McDougle Elementary
Valerie Minogue, the dedicated school nurse at McDougle Elementary School in Carrboro, North Carolina, has been a vital presence since 2013. Fondly known as “Nurse Val,” Minogue plays a crucial role in fostering a safe, welcoming environment where every student feels valued and supported. Her work ensures that children can focus on learning without worrying about their physical or emotional well-being
Minogue organizes her supplies each morning before students arrive, preparing to meet their diverse needs. She has created a bright, welcoming office that serves as a safe space for students. Over her 11 years at McDougle, she has maintained an open-door policy, encouraging students to stop by even when they aren’t sick. “I tell people, ‘don’t feel like you have to be sick to come down here,’” she said. “I try to help everybody succeed in school and do whatever I can to make everybody feel happy.”
Minogue wears silly hats each day to lift students’ spirits and make mornings at McDougle Elementary more exciting. She began collecting hats in her second year and now owns more than 31. After noticing students were reluctant during morning carpool, she started wearing fun hats and organizing activities to make drop-off more enjoyable. “It shows that we're really silly, and life is silly, and we're happy here, and there's no need to be nervous or scared,” she said. “It makes them happy, and they laugh, and they giggle."
Minogue cleans a student’s bloody knee after he tripped on the way to class. Last year, she averaged about 10 to 11 patients a day and does not take an hour-long lunch, as she must remain available at all times. She said the responsibility at McDougle is intense and comes with significant pressure. “My very first year, I couldn't eat or drink or sleep, and I lost all this weight, because I was sitting here going, ‘okay, how would I get to a classroom where I didn't know the lay of the land?’ I had to learn everything," she said.
Minogue escorts a student to receive a meal through the school’s free and reduced-price breakfast program, which many students at McDougle Elementary rely on. She also created a Monday morning “breakfast bunch” to support students from divorced homes, offering a space to rest. “Over the weekend, certain kids have different rules and different bedtimes so it's just good to come in and have a check-in and say ‘hey, let's reset for the week,’" she said.
Minogue bandages a student’s knee after he says it hurts to walk, often using placebo techniques to help students feel better. She deals with anxiety and other psychological issues more than first aid and meets weekly with the school social worker and psychologist to support students needing extra care. Together, they use strategies like giving students clipboards and paper to express their feelings.
Minogue checks her emails while wearing her shark hat, regularly communicating with parents about medications, vaccines, allergies and overall student health. Minogue is from Stratford, Canada and earned her nursing degree from St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia in 1986. She worked as a travel nurse in Boston, New York and Galveston, Texas. She received her Advanced Nursing Degree at Duke University School of Nursing in 1988. She worked in the field of intensive care for 25 years. In 2013, she transitioned to school nursing.
A student prepares to take his medication before lunch. Many students at McDougle Elementary rely on daily medications, including those with allergies, asthma, migraines and celiac disease. The school also has the highest number of exceptional children in the district, requiring additional social and emotional support. Minogue, a mother of four with a son on the autism spectrum, draws on her personal experience to support students with special needs. She said spending time with exceptional children helps students understand that everyone is different.
Minogue visits fifth graders during recess. She loves their energy and uniqueness and encourages them to believe they can achieve anything. Minogue said she feels like the school mom, giving students love and attention they may not get at home. “Children are here, and they didn't ask to be here but were brought into the world,” she said. “You need to love and adore them even when things are going wrong. They are really smart, smart little beings and they're fun and they're happy and they've got great spirits and they just need to be loved.”