Mirror Q & A: Jennifer Atkins

Mirror: What is your role at DHS?

Atkins: As a school nurse, I don’t teach a subject in a class, but I love to educate about health, illness, and how to take care of yourself!

M: How long have you been teaching?

A: This is my 6th year in Dedham. My first three years were here at the high school, I was the Dedham Middle School nurse for two years, and when Mrs. Antonuccio was promoted to the Director of Health Services, I came back to be the high school nurse. I am thrilled to be back!

M: Can you tell us a little bit about your background as a nurse?

A: I was a substitute school nurse in Westwood and Dedham before I was hired to be a permanent employee here. Before that I worked at Boston Children’s hospital and Dedham Medical Associates, among other places.

M: Where did you go to college?

A: I went to Boston University, majored in Political Science and went straight to D.C. to work on Capitol Hill. After a bit of that I went to Santa Clara University School of Law in California to get my Juris Doctorate. I worked as a lawyer for a bit before having kids, and going back to school to Simmons College to get my bachelor’s in nursing.

M: What do you like most about being a school nurse?

A: My favorite thing about being a school nurse is getting to know students over their four years here. It is really amazing to see teenagers grow and discover themselves, find purpose and direction, and get excited about graduating and taking on the world outside of Dedham High!

M: Where are you from?

A: I grew up in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, and lived in Washington D.C., San Francisco, and Boston before finally settling in Westwood where my kids are in middle and high school.

M: What are your hobbies?

A: Lately I have been watching way too much Netflix. But seriously, I love to spin, take virtual yoga classes, read a good book, occasionally knit, and I am a beginner on the paddle board.

M: What do you like about Dedham?

A: Besides working at Dedham High? Farmer’s market, GREAT restaurants in the town center (Pancho’s! Big Bear!), paddling on the Charles River, shopping at Legacy.

M: What inspired you to become a school nurse?

A: My kids went to a lovely small elementary school in Boston and I volunteered there all the time. I had so much fun working with the students and teachers there. That, combined with my experience working with a school nurse when I was a nursing student convinced me to try out school nursing as a career.

M: What is your favorite movie?

A: Raiders of the Lost Ark.

M: What is your favorite book?

A: I can’t pick one. I used to be hooked on crime novels with strong women protagonists like Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta novels. Lately I’ve been more interested in historical fiction and some popular YA.

M: What was the last song you downloaded or CD you bought?

A: What’s Up by 4 Non Blondes.

M: Will you be involved in any extracurricular activities?

A: I hope to resume my role as the faculty advisor to SAGA.

M: Dunks or Starbucks?

A: Starbucks, but at home I drink Peets. I love, love, love coffee.

M: How do you take your coffee?

A: Black, always. Unless it’s Dunks, in which case with lots of cream and sugar (which we used to call “regular”).

M: What is your greatest accomplishment?

A: This is a hard question to answer, but I would like to say I am working on a “greatest accomplishment” by beginning the journey to becoming an ADK 46er. I have 44 to go, and if you want to know what that is, drop by and ask me!

M: What jobs did you do before teaching?

A: Senior Associate tax consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Legal Surfer (yes, that’s really what it was called) with FindLaw, Inc., Staff Assistant with the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics.