Michelle Recatto
Poplarville Lower Elementary’s Staff of the Year for 2019-2020
My Family:
I am married to Beaux Recatto. We have two children, Sam and Sarah Recatto.
My Educational Background:
I graduated nursing school with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Southern Mississippi in 1992. I received National Board Certification of School Nurses in 2007.
What inspired you to choose nursing as a career?
I volunteered at a nursing home as a young teenager. I had a mentor, Mrs. Jackie Kellar, who impacted my decision to choose nursing as a career. I was also encouraged by my parents and grandmother.
I worked for Northshore Regional Medical Center, which you may know to be Ochsner Medical Center. I have been employed as a school nurse for Poplarville School District since 1998. As one of the first school nurses in the district, I had the privilege to work under and be mentored by Mrs. Louise Smith.
I love providing health education and advocating for children. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to be the school nurse at PLE. It is a privilege to serve these students and their families and to be a part of such a wonderful community.
“You can’t educate a child who isn’t healthy, and you can’t keep a child healthy who isn’t educated.” –Joycelyn Elders
What has been your most memorable moment at PLE?
My most memorable moment at PLE is too difficult to write about, honestly. It was the day I responded to a cardiac arrest on the playground. That is the very reason I can’t do without Jesus. He directed our paths that day.
The one thing I could never do without in my office is Jesus. Though I fail and am imperfect, he never fails.
What do Nurse Michelle’s co-workers say about her?
Michelle is a great school nurse who always has a smile on her face. She is knowledgeable and helpful. She cares about the students and staff.
She does an awesome job taking care of many students throughout each day. She keeps a great attitude and is never rude to any of her co-workers or students.
Michelle is reliable, dependable, and helps students and faculty with health concerns.
Nurse Michelle can be credited with securing the Blue Cross Blue Shield grants in which PLE was most recently named “Mississippi’s Healthiest School.” These two grants have provided PLE with $75,000 to provide greater access to physical activity and to promote a healthier lifestyle for students and employees.
