Thursday - Friday, January 15 - 16, 2026
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
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Join us for the 24th Annual School Nurse Conference! Be part of an inspiring two-day, in-person event designed specifically for school nurses! The 24th Annual School Nurse Conference brings together professionals from across the state to tackle the real-world health challenges you face every day in your school.
This is your opportunity to grow your professional network, gain practical insights, and exchange ideas with fellow school nurses who are just as passionate and dedicated as you are. Whether you're looking to sharpen your emergency response skills, stay current on chronic condition management, or connect with peers who truly understand your challenges, this conference offers a vibrant and supportive community where your voice matters.
Plus, explore exhibitors showcasing the latest products and services tailored specifically to school health — tools and resources that can make a real difference in your day-to-day practice. Don't miss this empowering experience. We can't wait to see you there!
Speakers
Daniela Ingram DNP, RN
Daniela Ingram has been the nurse supervisor and nurse consultant at the NC TB program for over seven years. Her duties include counseling one county on TB related issues, supervising three nurse consultants, an epidemiologist, and a registrar as well as managing the day-to-day activities of the program which includes grant writing, program evaluation, and overseeing contracts and Agreement Addenda to the 100 counties. She previously worked at a local health department where she started as the TB nurse and, before taking the job at the state, advanced her way up as the TB Coordinator.
Jeanine Sharpe, BSW, MSW, ACSW
Jeanine Sharpe is a native of Eastern North Carolina. She received her Bachelor’s & Master’s degree in Social Work and an Academic Certified Social Worker (ACSW) degree from East Carolina University. Jeanine is a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). She has also served as a board member of the ECU Social Work Field Community Advisory Committee. Jeanine has a diploma in Asthma Care and is currently the Social Work Case Manager with ECU Health’s Medical Center’s Pediatric Asthma Program. Over the last 23 years, Jeanine has provided children, families & the community with asthma management services through the ECU Health Maynard Children’s Hospital, formally Vidant Medical Center Pediatric Asthma Program.
Patricia Gibson, MSSW, DHL, ACSW
Patricia Gibson is an associate professor in the Department of Neurology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine where she provides individual, group and family counseling and is actively involved in medical student, nursing, patient and community education. She also serves as Director of the Epilepsy Information Service, a nationwide telephone information line for patients and their family members in operation since 1979. Ms. Gibson received her Master’s of Science in Social Work degree from the University of Tennessee. In 2012 she was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Queens University in Charlotte, NC. Ms. Gibson has organized and conducted numerous state, regional, and more than 60 national and international conferences on epilepsy. She set up the Epilepsy Medication Fund for the state of North Carolina in 1987 and conducts numerous fundraisers for this Fund. She has received national and international awards for her work to improve the care of those with epilepsy. She presently serves as the volunteer Executive Director of the Epilepsy Alliance NC.
Michael Shapiro, M.D.
Michael Shapiro currently serves as the Director of Behavioral Medicine at Duke Medical School’s Southern Regional Area Health Education Center. As a member of the faculty there, he participates in the education and training of physicians going through their 3-year residency in Family Medicine. In addition, he provides direct clinical service to patients in the family medicine clinic and at Cape Fear Valley Hospital. For the 30 years prior to moving to North Carolina, Dr. Shapiro was in private practice in Athens, Georgia, where he specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of child and adolescent developmental and psychological disorders. He completed his PhD in Educational Psychology at the University of Georgia and interned in the Department of Neurology at the Medical College of Georgia. He and his wife, Dr. Mary Shapiro, have since lectured extensively--both domestically and abroad--on topics related to child psychology, parenting, marriage, adoption, and mental health issues in a Christian context. They have authored two publications for Illumination Press; Rejoice Always: A Manual for Christians Facing Emotional Challenges and Understanding Sexual Behavior in Children: How to be Proactive in Educating and Protecting your Children.
Felicia Mosley-Williams, DNP, MHAEd, MSN, RN, NCSN
Felicia Mosley-Williams serves as the Statewide AHEC Nursing Liaison and as an Assistant Professor and Director of both the RN Refresher and Primary Care Certificate Programs at UNC Chapel Hill School of Nursing. Dr. Mosley-Williams has a passion for school health and school nursing and was instrumental in collaborating with the local hospital, Rural Health Association, and local health department to secure funding from the Duke Endowment and the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust to establish, develop, and implement a coordinated School Health Program in Bertie County Schools. Prior to joining Carolina Nursing, Mosley-Williams served as the nurse manager for the School Health Program at ECU Health (formerly Vidant) Maynard Children’s Hospital where she worked with Pitt County Schools to manage school nursing services in 39 schools.
Krystal Pendergraft-Horne, DNP, RN, FNP-C, CNE
Krystal Pendergraft-Horne is an Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing and a Family Nurse Practitioner with over 15 years of experience in emergency and acute care. She teaches undergraduate courses in health assessment and adult medical-surgical nursing and co-leads an interprofessional diabetes elective in collaboration with the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, where nursing, pharmacy, and medical students learn together through innovative simulation-based experiences. Dr. Pendergraft-Horne was honored with the Anne Belcher Interprofessional Scholars Award (2025–2027) for her work advancing interprofessional education through diabetic simulation and received the Undergraduate Faculty Excellence Award from the BSN Class of 2024. Her teaching and presentations reflect her passion for equipping nurses with the confidence, compassion, and clinical judgment needed to manage diabetic emergencies and improve patient outcomes across care settings.
Amanda Brinson, DNP, RN, CPNP
Amanda Brinson earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her master’s and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees from Duke University. Her doctoral work focused on self-management of asthma in the school setting. She currently serves as the lead faculty for the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program at the School of Nursing at UNC Chapel Hill, with a concentration in primary care. She coordinates the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program’s first and second clinical courses for MSN and DNP students. In addition to teaching, she actively maintains a clinical practice in primary care pediatrics. Dr. Brinson’s scholarly interests include general pediatric primary health care with special emphasis on routine well visits, newborn and infant health, breastfeeding, asthma and respiratory health, allergies, school health, immunizations and adolescent health.
Jessie L. Garner
Jessie L. Garner is a native of North Carolina and graduate of the Cumberland County school system, He is an Army Veteran whose journey from incarceration and substance abuse to leadership and advocacy has inspired transformation across Cumberland County. After serving 19 years incarcerated, Jessie founded the Fayetteville Cumberland Reentry Council in 2015, pioneering support for individuals returning to the community. In 2016, he helped establish Harm Reduction, LEAD (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion), and C-FORT initiatives to address substance use and justice reform. Appointed by Governor Roy Cooper to the MH/DD/SAS Commission (2017–2024), Jessie holds numerous certifications in mental health, substance abuse, and incarceration. Today, Jessie serves as Director of the Overdose Prevention Project for the Cumberland County Department of Public Health, continuing his mission to restore dignity, reduce harm, and build pathways to healing.
Sgt. Ricky Mulcahy (retired)
Sgt. Ricky Mulcahy is a seasoned law enforcement professional with over 30 years of distinguished service marked by unwavering commitment to public safety, tactical excellence, and investigative leadership. He dedicated 20 years to the Fayetteville Police Department's elite SWAT team, serving 15 of those years as a SWAT Sergeant, where he led high-risk operations, coordinated tactical deployments, and mentored officers in advanced crisis response. His leadership extended to supervising the Crimes Against Persons/Major Crimes Detectives division and directing the Narcotics Division, where he oversaw undercover operations, interdiction efforts, and multi-agency collaborations targeting drug trafficking and organized crime.
Certified by the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Division as a police instructor, Sgt. Mulcahy has taught a wide range of law enforcement topics with particular emphasis on rapid deployment tactics. His instructional approach blends real-world experience with evidence-based practices, equipping officers with the skills needed to respond effectively to dynamic threats. Sgt. Mulcahy's legacy is defined by his operational leadership, investigative expertise, and dedication to training the next generation of law enforcement professionals.
Melissa G. Overton, BSN, RN
Melissa G. Overton is an award-winning nurse, educator, entrepreneur, and internationally certified John Maxwell speaker, trainer, and coach with over 25 years of healthcare and leadership experience. She is the Founder and CEO of MedicalTraining.me and Illuminated Training, organizations dedicated to improving professional development, leadership, and workplace culture in healthcare and beyond. A former ER and critical care nurse, Melissa combines her clinical expertise with entrepreneurial insight to create engaging, high-impact education and leadership programs. Her innovative work has earned her multiple honors, including the ATHENA International Leadership Award and the Triangle East Chamber of Commerce “Small Businessperson of the Year.” A proud East Carolina University graduate, Melissa is passionate about empowering others to lead with heart, connect authentically, and build thriving communities.