Welcome to Bledsoe County School's Office of Coordinated School Health!
The Coordinated School Health (CSH) Mission is to improve student health outcomes as well as support the connection between good health practice, academic achievement, and lifetime wellness. The goal is to improve student health and their capacity to learn through means of personal responsibility, and the support of families, communities and school. The CSH model connects health and learning & consists of eight inter-related components. The eight components of CSH include:
Health Services, Nutrition, School Counseling, Psychological & Social Services, Physical Education & Physical Activity, Student, Family, & Community Involvement, Health Education, School Staff Wellness, and Healthy School Environment, . See more about each of these components below.
Michelle Rains, BSN, RN (Coordinated School Health Director)
Michelle DeBord-Rains, RN BSN NCSN, graduated from UTC in 2001. She worked in Chattanooga and Knoxville in Labor and Delivery before becoming a school nurse. Michelle enjoys the beach, lake, traveling, snow skiing and traveling with her family and three children, Kaylea, Kennedy and Austyn.
Laura graduated from TCAT in 2008 and worked in home health and long term care before becoming a school nurse at Pikeville Elementary. A fun fact: she loves bluegrass music! In her free time she likes to spend time with her family. She is now the Coordinated School Health Supervisor. She is currently enrolled to receive her Bachelor's Degree so she can continue to help her community!
Patty Pendergrass, LPN works at BCHS. She graduated from TCAT in 2008 and worked in long term care and home health prior to becoming a school nurse. Patty loves to travel and spend time with her family and her three children Lilly, Ryder & Maddox.
Casey Sherrell, RN BSN graduated from TTU in 1995. Prior to being a school nurse, she worked in surgery and PACU. A fun fact about Casey: she's ambidextrous! She enjoys traveling, golfing and enjoying time with her family and her two children, Landry and Lilianne.
Lacey Pendergrass, LPN graduated from TCAT in 2015. She worked in pediatrics before becoming a school nurse. Lacey loves the beach, reading and exploring Fall Creek Falls with her family and children, Kynlee, Kamdyn, Evelyn, and Rameses.
Maria Regis, LPN graduated from TCAT in 2012 and is the school nurse at Cecil B Rigsby Elementary. Maria worked in public health prior and was a migrant coordinator prior to becoming a school nurse. Maria was born in Sarasota, FL as a migrant and found the migrant position with Bledsoe County Schools as her most rewarding job. Maria loves going to the beach, coaching rec soccer, traveling and making memories with her three children Antwan, Nehemiah and Tatyanna.
Being a part of your child's PTO or Healthy School Team is a great way to support their success as a student. Join a meeting and see what great things your team is doing, what you can do to help, or to offer insight on projects for their school . See your student's school website, links below, or call the office for meeting dates and times.
Partnerships with PTO provide new soccer nets, gaga ball pits, student jog-a-thons and more!
Ask how you can be a part of your school's Healthy School Team!
Health Education:
Ms. Beverly Tarver is our Health Educator for Bledsoe County Schools, focusing on drug education for K-12th grades. She has taught physical education and wellness for 30 years. Ms. Tarver was also a high school girls basketball coach for 18 years and volleyball coach for 10 years. She enjoys working out, making soaps, and spending time with her family, including her new grand baby.
Coordinated School Health is working with principals to identify employees who go to the extra mile. Congratulations everyone and thank you for your hard work! Please help in nominating an outstanding employee by reaching out to us. We want to make sure our staff feels loved and appreciated.
Calming corners were initiated at PES and other schools throughout the district in the Spring of 2022, through the Center for Disease Control grant. PES was one of the first schools in the district to become trauma informed. A trauma-informed school recognizes and responds to the behavioral, emotional, relational, and academic impact of traumatic stress on those within the school system. Calming corners provide a safe place for students to de-escalate and manage their response to stress so they are better equipped to focus and learn while remaining in the classroom.
Water filling stations have been added to all schools to offer access to filtered water for students and staff to access throughout the day.
