Winchester, VA- Education is integral to every facet of staff life at myPotential at Home—A National Lutheran Service. From staff training sessions to community outreach events, education is more than just a buzz word. For two staff members in particular, education is also a calling. Administrator Denise Kozlowski and Office Manager Jill Halstead serve as adjunct faculty for Shenandoah University in Winchester, Va., and Blue Ridge Community and Technical College in Martinsburg, W.Va., respectively.
Kozlowski’s love of teaching started in 2006 when she began working as adjunct faculty at Shenandoah University, teaching undergraduate nursing students in learning labs and clinical settings. After taking a break from teaching in 2013 to help start myPotential at Home, she jumped at the chance to return to the classroom this year.
“This class at Shenandoah University is the first clinical experience the nursing students have in their curriculum. After a year of classroom education about topics such as anatomy, physiology and pharmacology, I get to help them apply all that knowledge,” myPotential at Home’s Administrator Denise Kozlowski said.
Kozlowski has more than 18 years of nursing experience and holds a master’s in adult health, with a concentration in geriatric nursing, from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va. She is a member of the Faith Community Nurse Network and Winchester/Frederick County TRIAD—Reducing Crime Against the Elderly.
For myPotential at Home’s Office Manager Jill Halstead, she started teaching after she received her master’s in strategic leadership. Halstead has taught numerous courses at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College since 2010, ranging from accounting and personal finance to computer literacy and business ethics.
“I’ve had the pleasure of teaching both evening classes and online courses. Since 2012 I have primarily been teaching business ethics, which is an informative and interactive subject,” Halstead said. “In August, I celebrated five years of teaching and I still love every minute of it. It is a tremendous opportunity to help educate future generations.”
Halstead received her master’s degree in strategic leadership from Mountain State University in Berkley, W.Va., and brings 15 years of experience in senior care, specializing in office management, human resources and billing.
About myPotential at Home
myPotential at Home—A National Lutheran Service offers in-home health, wellness and personal care services to seniors and their families in the comfort and privacy of their own home. Serving Winchester City, Clarke, Warren and Frederick counties, myPotential at Home’s desire is to preserve independence and help individuals reach their potential at any age and any stage. For more information, visit www.mypotentialathome.com
About National Lutheran Communities & Services (NLCS)
Based in Rockville, Md., NLCS is a not-for-profit, faith-based ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) Delaware-Maryland, Metropolitan Washington, D.C. and Virginia Synods, serving people of all beliefs. Celebrating 125 years, NLCS provides seniors with a variety of lifestyle, residential and health care options through retirement communities and services in Maryland and Virginia.
Other communities and services sponsored by National Lutheran include The Village at Rockville in Rockville, Md., The Legacy at North Augusta in Staunton, Va., The Village at Orchard Ridge and myPotential at Home in Winchester, Va., and The Village at Crystal Spring in Annapolis, Md., subject to Maryland Department of Aging approval. For more information, visit www.nationallutheran.org