By Tom Rohrer
In 1979, a new employee of the Tenino School District came into Mrs. George’s classroom, ready to meet more students she would be watching over and staff that she would be working with.
In that meeting, the school district’s new nurse, by way of Nevada, received the title that would be associated with so many positive aspects in the Tenino community for years to come.
“Mrs. George asked the kids, ‘what do we call her, what do we call her,” said Charla Dunham. “And she said, ‘well she’s a nurse and her first name is Charla. So it was settled on Nurse Charla and that name has stayed with me since 1979.”
Thirty four years after receiving her affectionate title, Nurse Charla is stepping down from her position, after securing a legacy in the Tenino community.
“I feel satisfied, I do, I feel like I’ve really established a legacy for myself,” Dunham said. “I’m very proud with what I’ve done. It’s time to step away, but I don’t see myself leaving the community or the people in it.”
Prior to her move to Tenino in the late 1970s, Dunham worked for ten years in acute care as a flight, emergency, ICU, and Head Nurse Supervisor of a Pediatric Unit.
“In the hospital setting, I just fell in love with the pediatric aspect, helping kids, working with kids,” said Dunham, who moved to Tenino after her husband Everett had a job transfer. “I’m really passionate about kids and I had the tendency to bring kids home from the hospital. My husband wanted for me to live and work in a less stressful work environment.”
Dr. Bill Davis, then the Tenino School District Superintendent, hired Dunham for the school position despite the fact she had not worked in educational nursing before.
“He was a visionary superintendent and (the community) had some intense health care issues,” Dunham said, “He took a risk and was focused on the betterment of the kids. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to continue my passion, one I’m thankful I took.”
Right away, Dunham realized her job would encompass more duties than just applying ice packs and bandages to injuries.
“I think when I was first hired, I realized I wouldn’t be a Band-Aid nurse,” said Dunham, who has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a minor in psychology and counseling, and a Masters of Education in Community Health. “I’m going to asses them. I knew kids carried emotional wounds. I knew to focus more on education and awareness for issues like drugs and alcohol. I wanted to have a holistic approach.”
Dunham noted she needed to switch from the emergency focus, to prevention and intervention. This realization led Dunham to become more involved with the surrounding community, which brought the school and community more resources and treatment over her time at the school.
“I’m a community focused person, and I saw that the area didn’t have a lot of resources, clinics, and at a point didn’t really have a doctor’s office,” Dunham said. “To better and find those resources, I served on a variety of local, state, and national boards to build that collaboration and bring services down to the school. That’s where all these extra programs came in, through that collaboration.”
Along with bringing in many programs such as blood drives, and dental services that provided fluoride treatment, Dunham started the Holiday Giving Project, which helped impoverished families around the holidays.
“For years, I saw so many families unable to have holiday time,” said Dunham. It started with two families, and this year there were 35. I got the resources and sponsors for them just by making connections. Other families would call saying they wanted to sponsor a family, and then agencies would do the same. None of that was part of my job, it was just something I wanted to help with and bring awareness to.”
Dunham also would serve on the State of Washington Nurse Board, eventually becoming the Board President before being elected to the National Board.
In 1987, she received the Washington State Health Educator of the Year Award and in 1999 won the Washington State School Nurse Award as well. One year later, she was recognized with the National School Nurse Award.
“It was an honor, but it was something I worked for,” Dunham said. “I love learning. I go to two state school nurse conferences a year, then to the national conference once a year. And between that I go to university classes and look at online courses as well. I’m learning new things all the time, and each year, I would come back to make assessments and changes that were necessary.”
Dunham believes her legacy lies in the relationships she forged with students. By having the opportunity to see the kids from their days in kindergarten to their graduation, she was able to earn trust and understanding with the kids.
“I’ve had the luxury to see the kids from preschool to high school. I got to see and listen to what kids are saying,” Dunham said. “Building that rapport and trust helps them feel comfortable talking to me and in making changes and adjustments.”
“I’m amazed in how kids overcome adversity, through all the social issues they face and the vulnerability they have,” Dunham continued. “I see that resiliency every year, that fight, and it’s something that amazes me and I appreciate.”
Dunham appreciates the greater Tenino community and the coworkers that have walked the halls with her.
“I like the families. We have a huge cross section of demographics. It doesn’t matter if you’re on this end or that end of it, we’re in this together,” Dunham said. “Everyone has issues or faces some adversity, no matter what, and it’s good to know that this community goes through that as a family.”
An avid gardener and traveler, Dunham plans on doing both with her husband following retirement.
“He’s very excited and has always been very supportive of me,” Dunham said.
Dunham also plans on writing down funny stories, rewarding experiences and memories into a book. While she doesn’t plan on publishing it, she hopes it will serve as a great record of her time in the profession. She also noted she’s looking to explore advocacy in senior care. Obviously, her retirement may feature more work than those still in the employed.
“I’m a go-getter,” Dunham said. “It will be hard for me to not work at all on my passions.”
To this day, former Tenino students continuously call Dunham for advice, to offer kind words, or to just catch up. Her long reaching influence was put on display during a trip to Florida in her past.
“We were in the airport and I hear ‘Nurse Charla, is that you?’ and I just was amazed,” said Dunham. “But given how much time I’ve spent with so many kids, I guess it really isn’t surprising.”
The Tenino School District will recognize Charla’s contributions and years of service at 3pm on Wednesday, June 12.
