The Relentless School Nurse: Time Magazine Features a Public Health Nurse – “Inside the Parent-Led Movement For Phone-Free Schools”

From the frontlines of our nation’s schools, a movement is building—one shaped by parents, educators, and community health leaders who refuse to accept that a child’s potential should be surrendered to endless scrolling on a smartphone.

School nurses see it every day: the student who can’t look up from a screen long enough to hear their name called. The lunches where friends sit together but speak to no one. The anxious glances when devices are taken away, as if a lifeline has been cut. 

Over the years, my journey has placed me in conversation and coalition with changemakers across the country—but few are as steadfast as Laura Derrendinger, a public health nurse whose commitment to student well-being blends compassion with clinical insight.

Inside the Parent-Led Movement For Phone-Free Schools is a Time Magazine article by Senior Coorespondet,  Charlotte Alter, Laura’s advocacy efforts, along with those of colleagues across the country, are featured, shining a light on a parent-powered wave demanding phone-free schools: places where curiosity, not screens, lights up students’ faces, and where real connection is built across lunch tables instead of through virtual group chats.

Laura’s advocacy isn’t theory. It’s born from daily realities: kids struggling to focus, connect, and grow in an environment saturated with digital distractions. Her work reflects what I’ve long believed—that safeguarding our students’ mental, emotional, and physical health means speaking up in every space that shapes their lives, including social media. Safety—both physical and psychological—is at stake.

That same commitment drives my work as a member of the New Jersey Governor’s Commission on the Effects of Social Media Usage on Adolescents. Created in 2023, this initiative brings together educators, health professionals, parents, and students to explore the impact of digital platforms on mental health, sleep, academic performance, and social development. We are charged with delivering solutions that are grounded in evidence, compassion, and an unwavering focus on the well-being of every child. Our working group is putting the final touches on the formal report, due this fall. 

Across districts and state lines, families are joining forces. Parent-led campaigns are proving both practical and visionary, fueled by the same determination that drives school nurses to speak up for their students every day. Together—with leaders like Laura lighting the way—we can create learning environments where children can truly flourish: phone-free, fully present, and future-ready.

It is not only parents and adults speaking up; here are links to two Op-Eds written by Laura’s talented teen daughter!

How School Nurses Can Support Parent-Led Phone-Free School Efforts

1. Educate the Community – Share research on the health, learning, and social impacts of excessive phone use; host workshops or discussions with parents, staff, and students.

2. Facilitate Communication – Serve as a bridge between families, students, and school leadership to ensure all voices are heard.

3. Contribute to Policy – Participate in creating or revising phone-use policies with a focus on student wellness and equitable access.

4. Address Barriers – Identify student needs (health, language, and emergencies) and collaborate with the school to provide equitable solutions.

5. Model Healthy Habits – Demonstrate mindful technology use and promote engaging, screen-free options during the school day.

6. Build Partnerships – Collaborate with local, state, and national groups to share resources, success stories, and advocacy tools.

Resources:

Advocacy & Policy Toolkits

• • • Phone-Free Schools Movement: National campaign providing resources, real-life school stories, and advocacy tools, including how to recognize schools with successful policies.

      • https://phonefreeschoolsmovement.org

    • Fairplay & Phone-Free Schools Ambassador Toolkit: Free downloadable toolkit for parents, educators, and advocates with sample petitions, policy templates, messaging samples, and infographics.

      • https://fairplayforkids.org/new-toolkit-can-help-parents-community-members-make-schools-phone-free/

Research & Policy Guides

• • • Protect Young Eyes #phonefreeschools Toolkit: Step-by-step guide for parents and school leaders to start conversations and pass policies locally.

      • https://www.protectyoungeyes.com/blog-articles/phonefreeschools-how-to-talk-to-your-school-district-about-removing-smartphones

Community & Peer Support

• • ScreenStrong: Advocacy organization with guides and community-building strategies, including how to start a parent book club and peer-led initiatives.

    • https://screenstrong.org/schools/

    • https://screenstrong.substack.com/p/empowering-parents-to-support-phone