This school year, Loretto Academy has welcomed a new school nurse whose presence has quickly become an important part of daily life on campus.

Graduated from Loretto as the Class of 1995, Ms. Michelle Ramirez has been dedicated to her Loretto community for years.

After graduating from Baylor in 1999 with her nursing degree, she worked in surgery both in Dallas and El Paso, also alternating with kids in the outpatient setting.

However, she made the decision to take a pause in her career to spend time with her family as her third child was born.

When Ms. Ramirez found out that Loretto was hiring a nurse, it was during her 30th class reunion in 2025.

She immediately knew that this was the time for her to come back to her beloved alma mater and show her appreciation for her community.

Ready to Help

Ms. Ramirez wants every student to know that her door is always open and she is there to help with every aspect of students’ health.

Ms. Ramirez said, “Students can come to my room if they are feeling under the weather, or even if they need someone to talk or are feeling stressed,” as mental health is still equally important as physical health.

Unfortunately, she is unable to prescribe medicine, but will help students with a bloody nose, stomach ache, etc., and is waiting for approval to prescribe.

Ms. Ramirez said, “If students need a little break from class and need a place to think or calm down, I’m here for them.”

When and where to go to the office

To accommodate the new faculty, Loretto is currently in the midst of constructing a nurses’ room on the third floor that will be finished by the second week of February.

Ms. Ramirez will only be available in the morning as she is part-time, but if students happen to stop by when she isn’t there, the elementary nurse will be alternating times with her.

Stepping into a new role, she has embraced the fast-paced environment of a school setting with confidence and compassion.

In just a short amount of time, she has become more than just a new staff member: she is a reassuring presence in the hallways and a reminder that at Loretto Academy, care and community go hand in hand.