Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1337485
A S T Y E A R , Shadlie Kensrue, full-time creden- tialed nurse for Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) and member of Irvine Teachers Associ- ation, was closely following the COVID-19 vaccination rollout plans in Orange County. Once the county started its first phase of vaccine distribution and injections in late December, she reached out to help, volunteering after work hours and on the weekend. "I have had a lot of guilt that I am not shoulder to shoulder with my intensive care unit col- leagues, especially during this last surge that has overwhelmed our hospitals," says Kensrue, a critical care and trauma nurse prior to her current job at North- wood High School. "It has been an honor for me to volunteer my time and my skills to our com- munity during this pandemic." Kensrue found herself admin- istering shots at the Disneyland and Soka University L Shadlie Kensrue administers COVID-19 vaccine at the Disneyland supersite. DOSE OF HOPE School nurse Shadlie Kensrue helps keep her community safe while waiting for educators' turn supersite locations and various clinics to frontline work- ers, the elderly, and those with underlying conditions. Meanwhile, she remains acutely aware of the need for educators to get vaccinated. " With each vaccine I give, my hope is that perhaps that could be one less hospital- ized or ICU patient. And with each dose given, my hope is that we are one dose closer to getting these vaccines into the arms of our teachers and school staff." Unfortunately, Orange County officials, like many of their coun- terparts in California, still have not determined when they'll be able to start vaccinating educa- tors and others in Phase 1B. In addition to a lack of state- wide coordination, many counties report vaccine "It will be an awesome day when I get to give educators their vaccine and tell them thank you for hanging in there and taking on the impossible task of supporting students through this pandemic." —Shadlie Kensrue, Irvine Teachers Association 19 F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 21 Feature