The nurse’s office at Royal Ridge Elementary School is filled with fun posters. There’s one with Kermit the Frog and several with Snoopy and Woodstock. And since 2006, the Royal Ridge Nurse’s office has also been filled with Registered Nurse Margaret Peth’s infectious smile and care.
She loves kids. In fact, before caring for kids at Royal Ridge, she worked in Pediatrics and the Nursery at a hospital. But a former North East ISD Nurse suggested she join the District’s nursing team—giving her a chance to spend more time with her children.
“It’s very different from the hospital, but I really enjoy getting to take care of really great kids and work with really great families. I love this staff too.”
As a school nurse, Peth has helped hundreds of students with medications and minor bumps and bruises. She’s helped with the occasional bead in an ear or head stuck between bars. She also put in countless hours during the COVID pandemic.
“I am in awe of the nurses in this District. I can honestly say all the nurses I work with are extremely dedicated. COVID was a huge test. We put in a lot of hours. There was a lot to do to keep our students and staff safe, but every nurse put in the work. It’s just a really devoted group.”
After 40 years in nursing, Peth is making another change—she’s retiring—giving her a chance to spend more time with her grandchildren.
“Royal Ridge has been good to me. It has just kind of hit me—there are a lot of kids I will miss seeing. I will miss this staff. There are a lot of nice families here. I am going to miss the families.”
While Peth is leaving with memories, she’s also leaving something behind. When a student passes the clinic, they just need to look up. Peth has painted a ceiling tile with her signature Snoopy and Woodstock telling students to “Take care.”
Thank you, Nurse Peth, for taking care of our students all these years.
May 6 -12 is National Nurses Week. NEISD wants to thank all the dedicated nurses and clinic assistants throughout our District who work so hard to keep our students, staff and visitors safer and healthy.
