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Toni Rebelo is the COVID-19 nurse liaison and nurse<br />
coordinator for the Lynnfield Public Schools.<br />
PHOTOS: SPENSER HASAK<br />
make decisions based on facts and<br />
science and not on emotions," Rebelo<br />
said. "We made it a point to base all<br />
decisions on the data."<br />
As the parent of three children,<br />
the Melrose native understood what<br />
people were feeling as the pandemic<br />
ramped up and schools were struggling<br />
to remain open.<br />
"It was an emotional time for all<br />
of us, but we needed to stay focused,"<br />
she said. "We knew that kids needed<br />
to be in school so that was always the<br />
No. 1 goal."<br />
Rebelo said she will never forget<br />
the weekend when the middle school<br />
hosted its first vaccination clinic for<br />
children ages 5-11. More than 550<br />
children rolled up their sleeves and<br />
got their first doses of the Pfizer<br />
vaccine.<br />
"That definitely had to be one of<br />
the highlights of the last year and<br />
a half," Rebelo said. "The children<br />
knew how important it was to get<br />
their shots. There was genuine excitement<br />
in the air. That age group had<br />
gone through so much, but we saw<br />
their strength and resiliency. I can't<br />
think of anything more satisfying<br />
than those clinics, as we were able to<br />
give them the normalcy and freedom<br />
they had not had."<br />
The effort hasn't been easy at<br />
times with parents challenging many<br />
COVID policies and guidelines.<br />
Through it all there were contentious<br />
confrontations and Rebelo remained<br />
the voice of reason, saying it's important<br />
to try to see where people are<br />
coming from.<br />
"Parents are speaking for themselves<br />
and while we may not agree<br />
with the process, the commonality is<br />
we all want the best for our children,"<br />
Rebelo said. "We have different ways<br />
of getting there but we must remain<br />
focused on the data that keeps<br />
us honest. The reality is that the<br />
vaccines and masks are what will get<br />
us through to the end. We can't let<br />
emotions get in the way. We must do<br />
what's best for the group. That's what<br />
public health is all about."<br />
Town Administrator Rob Dolan<br />
said there have been many people<br />
who have gone "above and beyond"<br />
battling through the pandemic. He<br />
commended the efforts of Rebelo<br />
and Davis, who he described as<br />
MVP-worthy. But when it comes to<br />
the schools, Rebelo is in a league of<br />
her own, a true "citizen hero" whose<br />
positive energy is "contagious.<br />
"Under her direction, in an almost<br />
impossible environment of ever-changing<br />
rules set by every level<br />
of government, it has been Toni's<br />
compassionate and pragmatic style<br />
that not only has kept our community<br />
safe but reopened Lynnfield schools<br />
faster than most," Dolan said. "That<br />
kept youth sports and school athletics<br />
running. She used her medical<br />
expertise as a nurse practitioner to<br />
aid educators, parents and students<br />
during this pandemic."<br />
Davis said Rebelo has been an<br />
"amazing" addition to the town's<br />
Emergency Management Team who<br />
possesses a "wealth" of medical<br />
knowledge and "outstanding" organizational<br />
skills.<br />
While it was unclear at the time<br />
the position was created how the<br />
position would evolve, Davis knew it<br />
was critical to put a process in place to<br />
connect the schools, Board of Health<br />
and EMT core-management team.<br />
"From the moment that Kristen<br />
and I interviewed her it was obvious<br />
that Toni would be a great fit for our<br />
vision of a liaison," Davis said. "I<br />
have no doubt that having Toni in her<br />
role as liaison kept countless children<br />
in school due to her attention<br />
to detail through contact tracing and<br />
being one of the first school districts<br />
to have a test-and-stay program up<br />
and running. Navigating the ever-changing<br />
guidance from the CDC<br />
as well as the DPH was a constant<br />
challenge."<br />
Vogel echoed Davis' sentiments,<br />
saying Rebelo is "truly a team player.<br />
"I do not know how we would have<br />
been able to manage without Toni on<br />
our team," said Vogel. "She always<br />
makes decisions that keep the safety<br />
and health of our students, staff and<br />
families at the forefront."<br />
Last fall, Rebelo was honored with<br />
the School Committee's Dorothy<br />
Presser Award. The award is reserved<br />
for a district employee who goes<br />
above and beyond in his or her commitment<br />
to education.<br />
School Committee Vice Chair<br />
Stacy Dahlstedt said Rebelo touched<br />
every level from pre-K to 12 in her<br />
REBELO, continued on page 46<br />
SPRING <strong>2022</strong> | 45
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