It is School Nurse Appreciation Week, and there is plenty to celebrate at Judson ISD. For the third consecutive year, a district nurse was recognized in the San Antonio Express-News Salute to Nurses awards. This year, Jennifer Guzman of Candlewood Elementary School earned the top School Nurse honor.
To Guzman, though, it just means she’s doing her job.
“For me, recognition is kind of hard because, as a nurse or an educator, we always feel like we are just doing our jobs,” Guzman said. “We are doing what we believe is right for the kids, and doing it to the best of our ability.”
For the students and families she serves each day, Guzman’s impact extends beyond the walls of the nurse’s office. From minor concerns to issues that require medical follow up, she helps identify student needs while guiding families toward appropriate care and support. Education is a central part of her work. She takes time to explain her observations, answer questions, and connect parents with resources.
Before coming to Judson ISD, Guzman worked as an oncology nurse, primarily caring for adults. While the setting has changed, the heart of her work has not. Education, relationship building, and trust remain at the center of everything she does.
“One of my greatest joys is teaching students how to speak up for themselves and understand how to communicate their needs,” Guzman shared.
That same commitment to communication guides how she works with families. She believes strong relationships are built through consistency and openness, even when it takes extra time.
“I always feel like communication is the biggest tool that I have to establish that trust with the families,” Guzman said. “Sometimes it means calling two or three times in a day. In the end, I feel like it really does help.”
Those connections with students, families, staff, and campus leadership are what make Candlewood Elementary feel like home.
“I love the kids. I hit the jackpot with my job. I have a great administrative team. I have great teachers. The families here, this school is my heart,” Guzman said. “Honestly, I did not know that when I went into school nursing that school nursing here was going to be my dream job. But honestly, it has been.”