Other Titles
Sustainable Learning Spaces: Nurse-Led Intervention Supporting Education & Well-Being in a ‘Last Mile’ Elementary School [Title Slide]
Abstract
This is a nurse-led intervention project in a ‘Last Mile’ elementary school in a geographically isolated and impoverished area in the foothills of a 6th class municipality in the Philippines. Majority of learners are indigenous children whose need for comfortable and heat-resilient classrooms in resource-deficient community is critical to reduce chronic health and educational disparities.
The Philippines’ nationwide classroom shortage is compounded by poorly built facilities that inadequately shelter learners from extreme heat and its associated health risks, and frequent storms. The high heat indexes ranging from 100-110 degrees F made teachers and learners vulnerable to severe discomfort, dehydration, and heat stroke. This problem disrupted in-person classroom delivery nationwide and further widened the educational gap for students lacking access to home computers or parents who are digitally compromised. Three classrooms were built using disaster-resilient structures that supported continuous in-person class delivery amid the nationwide suspension of classes due to extreme heat.
A needs assessment was conducted between the school head teacher and a nurse-led public foundation that supports social determinants of health. Partnerships included school and community leaders and two public foundations. A Memo of Understanding detailing the responsibilities of stakeholders was approved prior to construction.
Post assessment of the consistency of in-class delivery, classroom engagement, and well-being of children was done. Whereas students nation-wide were mandated to stay home due to severe heat in classrooms, learners were engaged and comfortable in these innovative classrooms as they continuously attended classes The three classrooms complemented the four original classrooms with aluminum roofing and indigenous materials.This project cultivated sustainable community partnerships through collaboration among school officials, parents, and the foundations.
The Philippines’ climate constraints of extreme heat interspersed with typhoons severely impact the health, well-being, and classroom delivery among children in underserved communities. This project reinforces the role of nursing leadership in addressing SDG goals (#3) good health and wellbeing, and (#4) quality education, by driving global health initiatives and enhancing health outcomes to reduce disparities in health and education in a vulnerable population.
Notes
Reference list included in attached slide deck.
Sigma Membership
Gamma Rho
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Global Leadership, Sustainable Development Goals, Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health, Leadership, Leadership Initiatives, Classroom Shortage, Sustainable Classrooms, Underserved Populations, Philippines
Recommended Citation
Doria, Jenneth B., "Sustainable Classrooms: Leadership in Supporting Well-Being and Education in a ‘Last Mile’ School" (2025). Biennial Convention (CONV). 204.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2025/presentations_2025/204
Conference Name
48th Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2025-12-08
Sustainable Classrooms: Leadership in Supporting Well-Being and Education in a ‘Last Mile’ School
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
This is a nurse-led intervention project in a ‘Last Mile’ elementary school in a geographically isolated and impoverished area in the foothills of a 6th class municipality in the Philippines. Majority of learners are indigenous children whose need for comfortable and heat-resilient classrooms in resource-deficient community is critical to reduce chronic health and educational disparities.
The Philippines’ nationwide classroom shortage is compounded by poorly built facilities that inadequately shelter learners from extreme heat and its associated health risks, and frequent storms. The high heat indexes ranging from 100-110 degrees F made teachers and learners vulnerable to severe discomfort, dehydration, and heat stroke. This problem disrupted in-person classroom delivery nationwide and further widened the educational gap for students lacking access to home computers or parents who are digitally compromised. Three classrooms were built using disaster-resilient structures that supported continuous in-person class delivery amid the nationwide suspension of classes due to extreme heat.
A needs assessment was conducted between the school head teacher and a nurse-led public foundation that supports social determinants of health. Partnerships included school and community leaders and two public foundations. A Memo of Understanding detailing the responsibilities of stakeholders was approved prior to construction.
Post assessment of the consistency of in-class delivery, classroom engagement, and well-being of children was done. Whereas students nation-wide were mandated to stay home due to severe heat in classrooms, learners were engaged and comfortable in these innovative classrooms as they continuously attended classes The three classrooms complemented the four original classrooms with aluminum roofing and indigenous materials.This project cultivated sustainable community partnerships through collaboration among school officials, parents, and the foundations.
The Philippines’ climate constraints of extreme heat interspersed with typhoons severely impact the health, well-being, and classroom delivery among children in underserved communities. This project reinforces the role of nursing leadership in addressing SDG goals (#3) good health and wellbeing, and (#4) quality education, by driving global health initiatives and enhancing health outcomes to reduce disparities in health and education in a vulnerable population.
Description
This nurse-led project created sustainable classrooms that fostered the well-being and education of impoverished school children in a 'Last Mile School' in the Philippines where high heat indexes have disrupted in-person classroom delivery nationwide. The project highlights nursing leadership to drive and influence global health outcomes through collaborative partnerships and foster health and well being (SDG #3) and quality education (SDG#4) among a vulnerable population.