Throughout her life, Wright City R-II District Lead Nurse Jacquelynn “Jackie” Vehige has always known that helping people would be her calling.

After starting in the district as a substitute nurse, Vehige has found her career path in nursing.

“I’ve always enjoyed helping people, even as a child, but I never imagined I’d find my calling in school nursing,” Vehige said. “I discovered a deep passion for working with children and supporting their well-being. School nursing blends clinical care with advocacy, education, and systems-building, and every day is an opportunity to remove barriers to learning. My goal is to support families and create healthier school communities.”

Thanks to a nomination from a fellow district nurse, West Elementary’s Jessica Bone, Vehige has been recognized as a finalist for the March of Dimes Heroes in Action Award in the Outpatient, Office, and Community Care category.

She was one of 166 finalists for one of the awards, but one of only 10 in her category, selected from 743 nominees across the region.

Bone praised Vehige for her impact across the district.

“I instantly thought of her because not only is she our district lead nurse, but she manages her own health office at the middle school,” Bone said. “She’s also earning her master’s degree in community health and school nursing. She goes above and beyond for students in her building and throughout the district. She’s a tremendous support to all of our nurses, helping create guidelines and policies, and she never hesitates to stop what she’s doing to help any of us.”

Vehige said that the role of the school nurse has had to evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of students in today’s society.

Taking care of everyday maladies is just a small part of the job, she said. The old ways of thinking that students head to the school nurse simply for cuts and scrapes are antiquated, she said.

“School nurses are often the first line of care for students,” Vehige said. “We’re more than Band-Aids and ice packs, because we see everything from mild to severe, and in many ways, we function as an in-school urgent care. But our role goes far beyond the clinic. We are public health leaders, educators, and advocates. We manage chronic conditions, respond to emergencies, support mental health, and connect families to care. Especially in rural communities, school nurses are often the most accessible health professionals children see. Our work is evolving to meet the complex needs of today’s students, and it’s more critical than ever.”

In terms of earning the nomination and being a finalist for the award, Vehige said she couldn’t help but feel honored.

“It’s incredibly humbling,” she said. “Being named a finalist among so many dedicated professionals reminds me that school nursing is community health in action. It’s a recognition not just of my work, but of the students, families, and colleagues who inspire me every day. It affirms that what we do in schools matters deeply.”

Wright City Superintendent Dr. Amy Salvo said that Vehige, who is currently working on her master’s degree in school nursing, serves as a prime example of the type of people who are working to make the district the best it can be for its students.

"Our school nurses play a vital role in supporting the well-being of our students, and Jackie’s recognition is a perfect example of what happens when dedication meets heart,” Salvo said. “Her leadership strengthens our entire district and reflects the spirit of ‘Together we can’ in everything she does. By caring for students across all buildings and supporting her fellow nurses, she truly lives out our commitment to every student, every day.”