School nurse and Red Cross Club sponsor, Mrs. Jennifer Ferris, has been a fixture in many students’ lives for the eight years she has worked at SHS. However, there is much more to Mrs. Ferris than meets the eye. As she prepares to step away from it all and retire, The Leaf staff took the opportunity to interview her and see what lies underneath the surface.
Mrs. Ferris was born in California but moved to Ohio when she was young. She went to Cincinnati Public Schools and graduated from Walnut Hills. “Ohio has been my home for most of my life,” said Ferris. She even went to nursing school and then college in Ohio before starting her nursing career at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
But she soon switched to working as a school nurse. “I enjoy teaching and I enjoy hearing feedback from staff or from other adults and students … Just offering suggestions and helping guide people to make healthy choices gives me a sense of pride,” Ferris explained.
As SHS’s school nurse, Mrs. Ferris has left a lasting impact on both staff and students. Ms. Megan Brenner, a counselor here at SHS, remarked, “Her presence in the building provides reassurance to those who require medical attention, and she helps keep our school community running smoothly.” Dr. Bonnie Stephenson, another SHS counselor, added, “We are lucky to have her.”
Outside of being a school nurse, Mrs. Ferris enjoys the “outdoors lifestyle.” She loves to camp with her husband and two kids, ride her bike, and go hiking.
She also enjoys going to the Renaissance Festival. 10 years ago, after seeing an advertisement, Mrs. Ferris and her family decided to go; they ended up enjoying it so much that they kept coming back. A self-proclaimed “Rennie,” she now enjoys donning period attire for the festival. Each weekend has a different theme: one week it is Elizabethan, another week pirates, and so on. Mrs. Ferris’s personal favorite? Time traveler. She loves dressing up as characters
like Beetlejuice and Loki. “It’s fun dressing up in period attire,” she remarked. “I have a whole closet full of Renaissance garb.”
Another Mrs. Ferris fun fact: She loves Star Wars. Ever since she went to see the first Star Wars movie in the theatre, she has loved the franchise. She has Star Wars items around the nurse’s office as well as at home. She is not afraid to admit it—she’s a Star Wars nerd.
Mrs. Ferris is so much more than just a school nurse. She is caring and compassionate, passionate and skilled. Mr. Chad Husting, her friend and SHS chemistry teacher, perhaps says it best: “Mrs. Ferris is totally awesome.” As she prepares to step away from her role as SHS’s school nurse, it is important to recognize all of the other qualities that make her unique and special.
“Mrs. Ferris is the heart of SHS,” Mr. Taylor Porter, SHS principal, affirmed. “She embodies what it means to be a true caregiver.” Mrs. Ferris is a truly amazing person who SHS students have had the privilege of calling their school nurse.