Robin L. Harvel, BSN, RN

This year Robin has been named:

Texas School Nurse of the Year by Texas School Nurses Organization

Health Educator of the Year by the American School Health Association

Robin L. Harvel has a BS in Nursing from the Texas Women’s University and an additional 32 post graduate hours. Her thirty-year career includes experience in hospitals, doctor’s offices, retirement homes, camps and occupational health. She has worked with people of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds, including extensive experience with military personnel and their dependents.

Serving as a School Nurse for over 23 years has taken her to many parts of the world and provided her with a global view of school-based health education and the positive impact it can have on the school community. She is currently at Fort Sam Houston ISD in San Antonio, Texas. Prior to that, Ms. Harvel has been a School Nurse and taught in three school districts in Texas as well as the Department of Defense Dependents Schools in Germany. 

Over the years, Ms. Harvel’s professional commitment is unsurpassed as shown by the many hours spent preparing lessons for students, implementing new programs, reaching out to the community and dedicating time to her own professional development. She is an active member of numerous professional organizations and has collaborated with and received support from local, state and national health organizations. She has been a prime player in developing coordinated health education and prevention programs including childhood obesity, diabetes, nutrition, safety and growth and development. She has received seven grants for health education programs she has created, developed, taught and documented. Most recently, she created and taught a School Health Helper program that teaches students self care and first aid skills that they implement as her assistant in the classroom.  Ms. Harvel has readily shared her programs as a frequent conference presenter.  

She has been an active volunteer for numerous organizations. The American Red Cross has benefited from her leadership in multiple roles for over 40 years. She was certified as a disaster nurse for the organization in the late 80’s and recently assisted survivors of Katrina and Rita. She also frequently volunteers for parent/student activities and has extensive community service.   

This past year alone she received the Texas Department of State Health Services Excellence Award for her School Health Helper program, Governor Perry appointed her to serve on the Texas School Health Advisory Committee and local TV news featured her in a school diabetes segment.  TSNO named her as Chairperson of their Committee for Student’s with Special Situations and she serves as treasurer of Texas School Health Association and as one of ten area nurses on Region 20 Nurse Advisory Committee.  In May 2007, she was recognized as the TSNO Region 20, School Nurse of the Year.

She is currently active in the following professional associations: National Association of School Nurses, Texas School Nurse Administrator Association, Texas School Nurse Organization (TSNO) and TSNO Region 20, Texas School Health Association (lifetime member and past President), American School Health Association and PTO. Her community involvement is with Chi Omega Alumni as Fisher House Wounded Soldiers chair and American Red Cross Disaster Services.