Pest Defense Interview with Hillary Peterson
Dr. Hillary Peterson is the IPM Specialist in the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. In her role as IPM Specialist, Hillary takes part in running the Maine School IPM Program, including the education of school IPM coordinators, improvement of materials for school IPM and outreach to school nurses. Hillary also serves on the Maine Asthma Coalition, gives educational presentations about structural IPM to stakeholders and organizes an annual Rodent Academy which provides an avenue for applicators and regulators to learn rodent behavior, biology and new IPM techniques. Pest Defense asked Hillary a few questions about her work with school staff.
To learn more, watch the recording of Hillary’s presentation, School Nurses: Crucial to School IPM Program Success.
What is the role of a school IPM coordinator?
In Maine, the school IPM coordinator is responsible for coordinating and implementing the school IPM policy, along with maintaining IPM records and approving any pesticide applications at the school. The school IPM coordinator is typically a member of the facilities staff or management. During school IPM coordinator trainings, I emphasize the importance of treating the role as a captain of a team of school IPM implementors. Others on the team include the food service director and staff, the business manager, contracted pest services, maintenance staff, custodians, teachers, office staff and nurses.
Tell me about the outreach initiatives you implement to support school nurses.
I attend the annual Maine School Nurses Summer Institute every year and spend the day talking with nurses about their experiences, concerns and ideas. I share handouts and posters related to school IPM. I also educate school IPM coordinators every year, and during sessions I make sure to include the importance of being in communication with school nurses.
Can you share an example of how including school nurses in IPM programs has created healthier school environments?
I have been able to translate my conversations with school nurses into further training and education for school IPM coordinators, including creating a hands-on activity working through scenarios where school IPM coordinators need to think about health and social implications of pest management. For example, one activity includes a hypothetical school with a large number of brown-tail moth caterpillars present, along with the art class hanging smocks outside to dry. In the scenario, I work with the school IPM coordinators to recognize that this could result in rashes on students and to communicate with the art teachers and school nurse about the situation.
If you would like to learn more from Hillary, you can find a full recording of her presentation, School Nurses: Crucial to School IPM Program Success, here.
School IPM resources for teachers from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry can be found here.