Friday, April 16, 1999
School nurse doled out love
Volunteer hours became career of 27 years
BY SUE KIESEWETTER
Enquirer Contributor
FAIRFIELD — When Sally Braun volunteered to begin a health screening program at Sacred Heart School 27 years ago, the school had only six grades, nuns in full habit taught there, and the city had but one doctor.
“The first day I walked in, I loved it,” said Mrs. Braun, who will retire at the end of the school year. “There was so much need here. There was nothing — no records, no screenings. I'm sure God sent me here.”
With no supplies and no budget, Mrs. Braun brought in speech and hearing stu dents from Miami University to test students' hearing. The Lions Club donated a vision-testing machine.
It was the beginning of a relationship that lasted through three principals, the change of a religious to a lay staff, two building additions and changes in state law that sent Mrs. Braun, a registered nurse, back to school for a bachelor's degree and teaching certificate. She eventually earned a master's degree in counseling.
Those early years Mrs. Braun, who was eventually hired, worked where she could — a corner here, a closet there, or partitions in the hallway. She got an office about 18 years ago.
“Never in a million years did I think I'd end up here for 27 years,” said Mrs. Braun, who isn't Catholic.
“When you talk to our students about the help they received from Mrs. Braun, you will hear about Band-Aids and ice packs, but you will also hear of a wonderful listener and loving words,” said Gail Budkie, reading specialist and parent of two Sacred Heart students.
“There is nothing more precious in her day as the time spent listening to a child and curing not only their physical wounds, but easing the wounds to the spirit.”
When Mrs. Braun sensed that more children were going to empty homes as moms returned to work, she worked with physical education teacher Kathy Young to develop the Safe Program, using a puppet show to teach children how to handle situations while home alone. The National Safety Council later adopted it.
Mrs. Braun and former teacher Dave Tobergte developed the school's first, morals-based sex education program.
Principal Joe Nagle has worked with Mrs. Braun for 17 years. “She's taught me the meaning of discovering the essential goodness of every child,” he said. “What better legacy could anyone leave?”
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