School Health Services

Why School Health Matters

United States Surgeon General, Dr. Jocelyn Elders, said it best, "...we can't educate children who are not healthy and we cannot keep them healthy if they are not educated. There has to be a marriage between health and education."  The mission of Health Services within Minneapolis Public Schools is to create and sustain a school environment that promotes and supports student achievement, health and well-being.

The model of Health Services in Minneapolis Public Schools uses a combination of Licensed School Nurses (LSN), Health Services Assistants (HSA) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN). LPNs and HSAs perform health office/clerical functions, care for ill and injured students, and carry out delegated nursing activities performed under the LSN's supervision.

The Licensed School Nurse is responsible for coordinating and managing the health needs of individual students during the school day as well as promoting health and safety for all students at a given site. They also provide training, delegation and supervision of the HSAs and LPNs.

Jennifer Hokanson, MS, RN, LSN

Jennifer.Hokanson@mpls.k12.mn.us

612-668-4525

2nd and 4th Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays

The 2025-26 school year will be my 6th year at Northrop and 10th year as a school nurse in the district. I have 3 kids who attend(ed) Minneapolis Public Schools. I LOVE my job!

My job as a professional school nurse includes coordinating medical care for students (medications, treatments, Emergency Health Planning), monitoring communicable diseases in the school setting, providing special education & 504 evaluations and services, and coordinating public health events such as flu shot clinics, and hearing and vision screening.

I am a former Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and have my Master's Degree in Public Health Nursing from the University of Minnesota. 

I am a member of the National Association of School Nurses (NASN), School Nurses of Minnesota (SNOM), and am a Nationally Certified School Nurse.