Sally Schultz is an outstanding nurse educator at Fox Valley Technical College. Sally is a caring, dedicated educator who truly wants excellence for her students. Sally has a dual degree (nurse practitioner and nurse educator), yet has chosen to teach nursing at FVTC for over 30 years. Sally presents the new student orientation for incoming nursing students every semester. From day one, she instills confidence in her goal of all students graduating together. She doesn’t just say that; she acts daily towards that goal. Sally makes the new students feel welcomed and aids their path to success.

Sally teaches three out of the four core courses in the first semester by choice. Sally does an incredible job of instilling care, encouragement, and motivation from day one that carries throughout the entire nursing program. First-semester students are nervous, scared, and anxious. Sally was instrumental in starting the FVTC Nursing Peer Mentorship Program. In this program, first semester students are paired with an experienced third semester nursing student to support, encourage, and guide the new students as they transition into core nursing classes. Several students stated they would not have completed first semester without the support of their mentor. This is just one example of her dedication to student success.

Sally is a wealth of knowledge regarding student resources and assessing others. Last year, one first semester student wanted to quit nursing school in the first week. However, with Sally’s great listening abilities, she deciphered the student was really just scared of failing. Sally assisted the student to reflect on why she chose nursing and provided resources to help her be successful. This shy isolated student ready to quit is now currently excelling in all her classes and is a mentor to first semester students. This is one of the countless times Sally has changed the life of her students by her patience, caring, and awareness.

As mentioned, Sally has great student connections. Despite having 20 other instructors, students often request to speak to Sally in their times of disappointment, with life and academic issues, or with sharing great news like getting a new job or passing a test well beyond the first semester. To me, this speaks volumes about Sally’s care and connection with her students.

Sally is an instrumental instructor who works tirelessly to improve student outcomes every semester. While at FVTC, Sally has made significant contributions to the nursing program through curriculum changes, accreditation visits, and supporting students to be successful. Sally has been a mentor and friend who has shaped me into the nurse educator I am today. A

nyone can clearly see Sally loves her job and is committed to student success. Sally is one of the first faculty members to arrive and often one of the last to leave each day. Sally has played a vital role in shaping the nurses for the last decades and preparing the next generation of nurses caring for citizens in the Wisconsin area and beyond. Sally is well deserving of a DAISY Award!