By SANDRA THAMES / Community Columnist

Ask any student at Creek View Elementary in Alabaster who Ms. April is, and they will quickly say “our nurse.”

Born in 1978 in West Monroe, Louisiana, Mills grew up with memories of playing softball, practicing with her dad, cheerleading and going to Mardi Gras.

Mills attended West Ouachita High School and received her degree in nursing from Louisiana Tech University.

She and Shawn Mills were married in 2001 and became the proud parents of twins in 2006.

The Labor and Delivery Department at St Francis Medical Center in Monroe, Louisiana was her first employer from 2003-2007.

In 2007 the Mills family (now including 1-year-old twins Cooper and Carlie) moved to Alabaster, where Mills took a job at Shelby Medical Center in, of course, labor and delivery.

Twelve-hour shifts at work and her children becoming involved in many outside activities left Mills lots to be concerned about.

The job at Creek View Elementary came along at just the right time.

Mills says, “I am here every day with my own children. I am off when they are out of school, and it’s the best job for me. I never go home wishing I had another job. There is never a dull moment and the kids make me feel like a rock star. They always want to say hey or give you a hug. They and their parents make me feel so appreciated.”

More than just passing out Band-Aids, Mills deals with medical disorders and children that are on daily medications as well as the usual aches and pains that occur during a normal school day.

She is a well-qualified RN who loves her job.

“A school full of well children is what makes me happy,” says Mills.

Mills and her family attend Westwood Baptist Church.

Her husband, Shawn, is the owner of C & C Construction.

The children are very involved in the community to include participating in soccer, dance, gymnastics, football, travel baseball and softball.

Students at Creek View Elementary are very fortunate to have “Ms. April.”