She’s testing a theory that high schoolers might be able to help younger kids – like middle schoolers—manage their asthma better in school. Especially if they come from the same ethnic group, and even from the same neighborhood. As for why she’s focusing on middle schoolers? She says kids this age are becoming more independent, and not as likely to want a lot of hand holding from the school nurse. Plus there hasn’t been a whole lot of attention focused on them.