Grace Hsu

Mitchell sits at her desk surrounded by some of her favorite phrases, mottos, knick knacks, and photos. Two photos capture the beach, a place where Mitchell will frequently visit after her move to Cape Cod for retirement.

Compassion. Fairness. Empathy. These are the core values that Director of School Nurses Joan Mitchell carries with her when she walks into Westford Academy each morning. Whether it’s to fill up a water bottle, get some Advil, or say hello to a friendly face, WA’s nurse’s office is often visited by students and faculty. Not five minutes go by without someone new entering the office, hoping to relieve physical pain or simply to have a conversation and a good laugh. 

After 15 years as one of WA’s school nurses, 18 years as the Director of School Nurses, and 25 years in the Westford Public Schools system, Mitchell will be retiring at the end of the 2024-2025 school year, leaving behind a legacy of unwavering dedication and heartfelt care.

Mitchell has been an avid member of Westford’s community throughout her career, serving on many of the town’s health-related committees. She has also coached a variety of youth sports, including field hockey, track, and cross country at Blanchard Middle School and Stony Brook Middle School, as well as JV field hockey at WA. Her impact reaches every corner of Westford, touching town policy and elementary, middle school, and high school students as she has also worked as a school nurse at Colonel John Robinson School. 

“What I love about working with WA students and staff is that I just think everyone’s so different,” Mitchell said, “[WA nurses] never have the same day twice. We never know what we’re getting. We could end up calling three ambulances, giving two EpiPens. Sometimes it’s quiet, sometimes it’s not. So we just always have to be [powered] on.”

Though Mitchell believes that being a school nurse is a major part of who she is, this was not always the case. Mitchell originally went to Providence College for Health Administration, hoping to combine her passions for science and business into one career. However, once she was in college, Mitchell realized that the path she really wanted to pursue was nursing, so she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Health Administration and enrolled in Newton Wellesley School of Nursing. 

“What made me want to pursue nursing was that I think it was always a passion of mine,” Mitchell said. “I think at the time I went to college, there was a big push on women getting into business. So I thought I would do business, but then I figured out that I was probably better at nursing.”

After graduating from nursing school, Mitchell worked at St. John’s Hospital as a medical-surgical nurse, then transitioned to school nursing after taking a few years off to spend time with her kids. She first started working in the Westford Public Schools system at the Robinson School in 2000, but switched to working at WA in 2007.

According to Mitchell, she prefers helping high schoolers because elementary school students are more physically demanding, and with high schoolers, there is more of a focus on mental health. However, this shift from physical health to mental health has not only been prominent in Mitchell’s shift from elementary school to high school, but also in the entire world of healthcare.

“Nursing approaches more mental health issues now, we just [have more] students that need support,” Mitchell said. “So we picked up many courses on how to deal with students with mental health issues, so that we can deal with this appropriately. Students come in and need counseling. We’ve taken courses on that, on how to approach the student in the best way, to help them through their crisis.”

Mitchell believes that she has created great connections with students and has loved seeing them grow from freshman to senior year. Many of the people who enter the nurse’s office are regulars, looking to brighten up their days with warm conversation or friendly banter.

“I met Mrs. Mitchell at the beginning of last school year,” sophomore Isla Hummer said. “I stop almost daily in the nurse’s office, sometimes to grab something, but mostly to fill my water and talk to her about what’s going on. She is going to be missed because of how kind she is, she makes conversation with everyone, and [she is] overall such a kind person.”

According to Mitchell, she will miss working with WA school nurse Kathy Bordeau the most, along with her interactions with students. As the years have gone by and healthcare has changed, one of the constants in her career has been Bordeau. They have worked together for fifteen years, and according to Bordeau, they have built a strong bond of friendship and admiration.

“Change is hard,” Bordeau said. “[But] I am forever grateful to have worked beside a strong leader and a dear friend for so many years.”