New Members Join the Healthy Schools Network Team!
New Year, new team members! We’re excited to kick off 2026 by welcoming Jennifer Lemon and Maggie Snipes to Healthy Schools Network!
Jennifer joined us as Assistant Executive Director on January 5. She brings more than 27 years of experience leading communications, partnerships, and public health initiatives across federal agencies, nonprofits, and consulting firms—skills that will help us broaden our impact for healthier school environments. Most recently, at the US Environmental Protection Agency, Jennifer led large outreach campaigns and built strong relationships with schools, agencies, and community partners.
Maggie also came on board this week as Strategic Development Consultant. With over 15 years of experience driving strategic growth and high-impact partnerships in media, tech, advocacy, and nonprofit settings—including senior roles at Applecart, Axios, and The Washington Post—Maggie will support our efforts to expand collaborations and amplify our work to protect children’s environmental health.
Both Jennifer and Maggie share our commitment to safe, healthy, and equitable schools. We’re thrilled to have them with us as we continue pushing for healthier school environments for every child.
Read their full bios here.
Flu Season Is Here—Time to Prioritize School Indoor Air Quality
The 2025–26 flu season is gaining momentum, and the Center Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is characterizing this season as moderately severe, with millions of cases already estimated nationwide.
While influenza activity typically peaks between December and February, CDC notes that flu can continue circulating well into spring—often leading to increased absenteeism among students and staff, disruptions to learning, and added strain on school health services. Children, particularly younger students and those with underlying health conditions, are among the most likely to experience complications from flu.
What can schools do?
Children are uniquely vulnerable in flu season. Schools also have unique features that raise the risks for colds and the flu for children and staff: for example, schools are more densely occupied than nursing homes and have a long history of indoor air problems. Classrooms, buses, cafeterias, and gyms all bring people into close contact for hours at a time—conditions that make airborne viruses and contact bacteria easier to spread. Vaccination, staying home when sick, and good hygiene practices remain essential, but the physical environment itself plays a very critical role.
Schools can help prevent the spread of flu and reduce absences and trips to the school nurse with good ventilation and cleaner indoor air. Good ventilation and clean indoor air can help dilute and remove airborne viruses, including influenza.
Resources to Help Improve Indoor Air Quality
See Healthy Schools Network’s resources page, including the report from our 2024 conference Air Just Air, and the links below to EPA resources designed to help schools improve ventilation and airflow; identify and address moisture, mold, and pollutant sources; maintain HVAC systems effectively; and create healthier learning environments that support attendance and performance.
- Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools
- Framework for Effective School IAQ Management
- Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Action Kit
Healthy indoor air isn’t just a lesson from the pandemic—it’s a core flu-season strategy that can help reduce illness, keep classrooms open, and protect children’s health.
