MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. — A Mobile County Public Schools nursing leader is being recognized on a statewide stage. Barbara Smith, MSN, RN, one of MCPSS’s lead nurses, has been named the 2026 School Nurse Administrator of the Year by the Alabama Association of School Nurses (AASN).
The statewide honor recognizes school nurse leaders across Alabama who go beyond direct patient care to strengthen the broader school health system — mentoring fellow nurses, building professional development opportunities, and setting standards of care for the students and staff they serve.
According to MCPSS, Smith’s commitment to mentoring and supporting school nurses, fostering professional growth, promoting collaboration, and ensuring the highest standards of care in school health services exemplifies the qualities the award is meant to honor.
School nurses play a central role in Alabama’s public school system, managing everything from chronic condition care and medication administration to emergency response and health education for thousands of students each day. Lead nurses like Smith oversee and support the broader nursing staff across a district, helping standardize training, protocols and best practices across dozens of individual school campuses.
Mobile County Public Schools is one of the largest school systems in Alabama, and its health services team is responsible for supporting student wellness across a wide network of elementary, middle and high schools throughout the county. Statewide recognition from AASN highlights the caliber of leadership within that team as the district begins the 2026-27 school year.
MCPSS shared news of Smith’s honor on its official live feed, congratulating her on the distinction as one of the district’s own lead nurses.