Valley Central school nurse Connie Griffin earns statewide healthcare honor

A student with a chronic condition, another due for a hearing or vision screening, and an athlete waiting on a physical can all end up in Constance F. Griffin’s care at Valley Central High School. That daily workload is why the longtime district nurse from Montgomery was named one of just two Healthcare Professional of the Year honorees by New York State United Teachers.

Griffin was recognized May 3 during NYSUT’s 55th Representative Assembly in Albany, the union’s annual policymaking convention where nearly 2,000 delegates gathered. NYSUT said the organization represents nearly 700,000 members across education, healthcare and human services, placing Griffin’s honor among the union’s top statewide awards.

At Valley Central, Griffin is listed as the district school nurse coordinator and the nurse at Valley Central High School. The district identifies her as Constance F. Griffin, BS, RN, AE-C, NCSN, a credential set that reflects both clinical training and school-nursing certification. Griffin has spent 32 years caring for students, and her work reaches far beyond a nurse’s office visit.

Her responsibilities include helping manage chronic and acute conditions, supporting preventive screenings and assisting with athletics physicals. In a district that served 4,152 K-12 students in the 2024-25 school year, those duties stretch across six schools in Montgomery: Berea Elementary, East Coldenham Elementary, Montgomery Elementary, Valley Central Middle School, Valley Central High School and Walden Elementary. One nurse’s attention can affect whether a student stays in class, gets treated quickly, or is cleared to participate in school sports.

Griffin’s role also extends into advocacy. She serves on the steering committee for NYSUT’s School Nurse Connection, a newer program that provides training, on-the-job support and advocacy for school nurses. She has also taken part in Collective Care Team advocacy efforts centered on school health and mental-health staffing. That push includes legislation that would require every school building to have at least one registered professional nurse, along with bills aimed at improving school health and mental-health staffing ratios.

The staffing debate is not abstract. NYSUT’s Senate bill record cites New York State Education Department data showing an average of one registered professional nurse for every 600 students outside larger cities. In a district the size of Valley Central, Griffin’s recognition highlights how much schools rely on experienced nurses to spot problems early, keep students in class and help families navigate care during the school day.