Elena Quick

Health Aide, Scuola Vita Nuova

How are you involved in education in Kansas City? Tell me a little about your work at SVN. As the Health Aide at Scuola Vita Nuova (SVN) Charter School, I get the pleasure of working with children and their families. I help educate students in areas of health, hunger, and hygiene so they can share their learning with their family and community. When our students arrive each morning, teachers and staff check in with students, paying attention to any uniform or hygiene needs, as well as hunger concerns. We never put a child on display, so the teacher may simply say, “Go check in with Mrs. Quick.” Because we have this system in place, I already know what to do. I help students get clean uniforms, brush their hair, give them breakfast or anything else they might need. I love educating students about the importance of washing their hands and face, brushing their teeth, and eating a healthy breakfast. They leave the health office feeling good and are able to start their day fueled up, ready to learn. Students amaze me every day with their ability to learn as long as they are loved while learning.  

What compels you to be involved/invested in this work?

Success can look different in so many ways for our families. In the health office, we have many issues we address, and becoming trauma-informed has given me a new perspective. I have some students who check in with me daily. I have been able to help them understand their health needs by listening, educating, helping develop their own plan, and holding them accountable. There is so much that working in education has shown me. A big part of that is learning from students and their families. If we listen and accept families right where they are, and give resources and tools to help in any area they need, we can educate no matter what level. This is what compels me to stay involved and invested in SVN.

With summer upon us, how do you ensure your families have what they need?

We work with a number of community agencies and partners to link our families with services over the summer. Our families are good about inquiring if they need help and we often can get them the assistance for summer camps or childcare. I also think that because of our relationships with our families, they know that we are always here for them – even through the summer. With a quick call or email, we would do whatever we could to help a family in need.

What do you believe will change/improve education in KC?

I think partnerships with families is what can make the biggest impact on education in Kansas City. We can’t see ourselves as two different teams. The school and the family must have a strong partnership.  In today’s society, families have a lot going on in their lives. Getting their children to school each and every day can be difficult. We do our best to build relationships with our families so that once they become a member of the SVN family they can trust that we always have their best interests in mind. Building these relationships is what keeps our families at SVN. I work closely with our staff to detect needs within a family. Without the help of our staff, I couldn’t give half of the care for our students that I do. When I see the need and hear the stress in a family’s voice, I will use all my resources to get the issue resolved. My goal is to have every family feel successful in their daily life. This means I strive to embrace our families – their culture, their happiness, and even their trauma – and love them right where they are.

A word of advice for others engaged in education in KC?

The best advice I can give is that if you feel you don’t have support and you are alone; you always can start small to make the difference our families need.

This content was originally published by SchoolSmartKC on 06/06/2019