LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Karan Hervey was nominated by her superintendent, Stephen Laatsch, as well as numerous other colleagues.

"On behalf of the entire Saline Area Schools District, I am honored to nominate our District Nurse, Karan Hervey, for the LifeChanger Spotlight Award," explains Laatsch.  "Karan is that person who makes a significant impact on your life by the way she truly cares for people and, in our fortunate case, the way she cares about the students, parents, and staff in our district. It only seemed fitting that I gave others in our district an opportunity to share their thoughts about Karan and why she deserves this recognition.  She inspires kindness in everyone she meets, and I think the words written by our staff will allow you to see how she has touched our district in a profound way. Kindness and empathy isn’t an act for Karan, but truly the lifestyle she lives. We joyfully nominate her for this recognition."

"Karan has changed many lives throughout the district.  After traumatic events in students’ lives, such as heart transplants, cancer treatments, fractures, closed-head injuries, or other major ailments, families look to Karan for guidance and comfort.  They look to Karan for the knowledge to let them know that their child is going to be 'okay' at school.  In several cases, immediately after a Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis, she reaches out to the families in order to assure them that they will be okay.  Karan is a calming presence with a wealth of knowledge and experience that families look to for peace of mind."  -- Laura Washington, Saline MS principal

"Karan stands out as a highly dedicated and compassionate member of our community. In normal circumstances, the position of district nurse would be difficult. During the pandemic, Karan has helped lead the district through an incredibly challenging time in order to keep kids safe and in school. Karan balances the numerous demands of leading the district’s COVID response with coordinating support for our most vulnerable students, all while keeping care for students at the center." -- Cameron Cochran, Heritage School assistant principal 

"Karan has been instrumental in keeping as many students as possible in school this past year with her tireless work ethic, compassion, and empathetic approach to helping students (and families) deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Karan, with her small team of nurses, works diligently to test close contacts for COVID-19 on a daily basis in order to keep as many students as possible in school. In a pandemic that has impacted so many people across this country, and the state of Michigan, she has really stepped up to support our school district’s number one goal: keep kids in school five days a week for in-person instruction. We are quarantining far fewer students this year than the previous year, and this really is a life-changing event for so many of our students and their families." -- Steve Laatsch, Superintendent

"Karan Hervey has been essential for ensuring our district can provide the safest learning environment for our students.  As we welcomed all students back to in-person learning this year, Karan and her team have gone above and beyond to ensure students are in school as much as possible.  For example, she keeps everyone in the district and community updated on the latest health guidance by providing road maps detailing what to do should you get sick.  Additionally, Karan juggles contact tracing, testing in multiple buildings, and quarantine requirements on a case-by-case basis. Lastly, Karan is someone our families trust.  They seek out her input and knowledge because she is not only experienced but also compassionate.  Our families know that when they speak to her, they will be taken care of by someone who understands."  -- Musetta Deneen, SHS Assistant Principal

"Karan Hervey consistently goes above and beyond to meet the needs of students across Saline Area Schools.  In a district with more than 5,000 students, Nurse Hervey works diligently to be sure each student’s medical needs are addressed.  She connects with families, creates medical plans, and builds trust with our families of students with both mild and major medical conditions.  Nurse Hervey builds trust with every family, changing lives by giving them the comfort to send their children to school knowing their medical needs are being met.  Karan trains staff across buildings for a variety of medical emergencies for first response.  Additionally, she has been the driving force behind acquiring AED units, training staff in cardiac care and acquiring Heart Safe award status in all of our district buildings.  This training resulted in a positive outcome for a second grade student that suffered a cardiac arrest at Woodland Meadows.  His life was saved due to the training provided by Nurse Hervey and in a moment, the lives of all involved were changed forever.  Throughout the pandemic, Nurse Hervey has acted as a liaison between our schools and the health department.  She has guided administrators and teachers through the mitigation strategies and procedures as well as quarantine protocols.  Karan Hervey has gone above and beyond in serving the students and families in Saline by hosting zoom sessions, making personal contacts and demonstrating compassion for each unique circumstance. Through these personal connections she is changing lives everyday.  Nurse Karan Hervey is truly an outstanding professional and an exemplar to all in her field."  -- Michelle Szczechowicz, Ed.S., Principal, Woodland Meadows

"Karan not only provides emotional and medical support to our SAS students but also their families and to our SAS staff. She has touched the lives of so many throughout the Saline community. We are blessed to have her calm presence, knowledge and love flowing through our district. Her dedication is unmatched as she often works throughout the evenings, weekends and holidays. Her pursuit to keep everyone healthy and safe has been unmeasurable as we have navigated through these last two years." -- Lindsay Guenther Assistant Principal Saline Middle School 

"Karan Hervey is a very compassionate and hardworking individual. She knows how to keep track of students and ensure the school environment is safe for all the children. She takes special care for the ones with illness and always does her job with a full heart and soul. I have never seen such a selfless person who loves kids so much. During the last year and a half, I have witnessed Karan spend countless hours preparing plans for every scenario imaginable during a pandemic, educating staff, students and families, and helping to support the district during some of our most challenging times. She is truly a blessing to us all." -- Kenyatta Hughes Pleasant Ridge Elementary School

"Karan goes above and beyond for our schools every single day.  Managing the district's health plans and supporting office staff is difficult in normal years. The last year and a half have proven to be exceptionally challenging.  Simply put, Saline Area Schools would not have made it through the rapid change that comes with the health crisis we have been facing without Karan.  She puts in hours well beyond a normal work day, to attend to students, community and staff needs.  When Karan has exhausted one day, she shows up for the next and then often works right through the weekend.  She does this with a smile on her face, a compassionate demeanor and a dedication to all of us that is unmatched by anyone else. How lucky we are in Saline to be supported and cared for by such an amazing individual!"   -- Megan DeGrand, Heritage School Principal

"During the most challenging years for educational institutions in recent history, our District Nurse Karan Hervey is the hero of Saline Area Schools.  The total sum of her contributions can never be measured - the hours, days, nights, and weekends that she sacrifices to serve our community all blur together and are often overlooked in the midst of pandemic chaos. Karan does not complain, ask for sympathy, or give up hope. Instead, she encourages others, provides empathy, and offers a promise for a better future. I am honored to work beside such an incredible person, one who makes the world a better place and is a daily reminder to all of us on how to treat one another." -- Anna Britnell, Director of Communications and Community Relations 

"Our district is so incredibly blessed to have Karan Hervey walk us through the incredibly difficult task of educating our students throughout a pandemic.  She is masterful in sharing information in ways that were clear, concise, and helped us feel empowered to make safe decisions.  Karan always takes the time to answer so many questions and ensure we understand the medical information.   We were always supported and never felt like we had to make decisions on our own.  Karan’s commitment is bar none.  She is one in a million! "-- Emily Sickler, Harvest Elementary Principal

"Nurse Hervey is tireless in her efforts to ensure a safe and healthy student and staff base. She attends county and state-wide meetings to gather information on COVID-19 protocols and communicates her findings throughout the Saline Area Schools community. Her knowledge base is broad and with her quiet demeanor, her approach is calming in the face of chaos. Saline is fortunate to have Nurse Hervey’s expertise, dedication, and compassion at all times, but especially during a global pandemic. She is a game-changer. Her efforts have enabled the schools to remain open in the midst of a public health crisis."  -- Carol Melcher, Principal, Saline Alternative High School

"Saline Area Schools is so fortunate to have the dedication and commitment of Karan Hervey. She centers all of her decisions on what is best for our students, families, and staff. She is thoughtful, knowledgeable, and compassionate. Karan handles multiple complex situations on a daily basis with the utmost care and grace. I am constantly impressed by the information and ideas she brings to the district, as well as her ability to support implementation. Karan has a huge heart and is truly a blessing to everyone she works with."  --  Molly Garcia, Director of Student Services.

"Karan Hervey has served Saline Area Schools for over a decade as our District Nurse. During that time, Karan has touched the lives of many students and their families. She is first and foremost a knowledgeable, dedicated, and talented professional. She approaches very unique medical challenges with a calm demeanor and a willingness to do what is in the best interest for the student. Karan embodies the definition of a team player and is always willing to go the extra mile, work hard, and take little credit for what she has done. The last few years have been extremely challenging but Karan has met each challenge head on and with such a positive outlook. Even when Karan is managing several situations, what has always impressed me about Karan is that she makes time to say hello and ask others how they are doing. Karan Hervey makes Saline Area Schools and the greater Saline community a better place to live and work. We are so fortunate to have her as our District Nurse and she certainly makes every situation a little better than she left it."   -- Monica Ellis, Assistant Director of Student Services

"Karan Hervey has been the absolute MVP of these last few years, without question. Over the last 6 years I have known her, she has always provided service to our students, staff, and families with a smile and warm, caring demeanor. She always makes you feel as though your needs are of the utmost importance and never flinches when another crisis or struggle comes her way. Even through a global pandemic, her support and caring for our students has never wavered. There is no one who deserves this award more than Karan. She is an amazing person." -- Theresa Stager, Assistant Principal Saline High School