Pingtung Ren Ai Elementary School nurse Chung Chien-lang honored with Teacher's Award, second school nurse in Taiwan to receive the honor

Chung Chien-lang, a school nurse at Ren Ai Elementary School in Pingtung County, has been honored with a Teacher's Award, a rare distinction for a school nurse in Taiwan. She is only the second school nurse in the nation's history to receive this prestigious award, which typically recognizes outstanding educators.

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In an emergency, prioritize student safety based on daily training. I pulled in the students around me into the health center and locked all three doors.

Chung's courage was notably displayed last year when a high school alumnus was chased by a man wielding a utility knife near the school. In a split-second decision, Chung quickly ushered the alumnus and nearby students into the health center, locking the doors and contacting school officials. This swift action successfully protected everyone inside until police arrived, with eight people sheltering for about half an hour.

With nearly four decades of nursing experience, Chung began her career in hospitals and public health before transitioning to school nursing in 2011. She has served at Ren Ai Elementary since 2014, building a strong sense of trust among students who view the health center as a safe haven. She has also been active in health promotion, first aid education, and sex education in schools and communities since 2002.

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When education can protect life at a critical moment, it is the most profound teaching. Chung Chien-lang's story is the truest manifestation of this value, proving that school nurses are not just medical gatekeepers but also an integral part of education.

Ren Ai Elementary Principal Lin Chun-chih praised Chung's dedication, noting her work in organizing county-wide first aid training and her meticulous care for the school's 1,400 students. He highlighted her integration of nursing expertise with education on first aid and gender equality, emphasizing her role in promoting life education and teaching students to protect themselves and others. Chung views the award as a beginning, feeling an increased responsibility to continue her work with the principles of respect, safeguarding, and protection.

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Receiving the Teacher's Award is a beginning. I feel my responsibility has become even greater, and I will continue to uphold the principles of 'respect, safeguarding, and protection' and work hard.