Elisabeth Barclay, MA Ed, BSN, RN, Illinois Certified School Nurse is a member of our Health Center staff. She has been a CSN since 1997 and a part of our staff since 2007. Certified to provide continuing education courses for nurses, she also teaches our school’s Dual Credit Medical Terminology course. Originally from East Peoria, she attended EPCHS before earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Illinois Wesleyan University and her Master of Arts in Education from North Park University. She shares, “First, I appreciate the time I have to build meaningful relationships with students and their families, relationships which many times extend beyond the school walls. I also love working with EPCHS Moms Who Care. This is such a supportive volunteer group who are fully dedicated to the success and well-being of our students. Lastly, I value the opportunity to bridge the gap between healthcare and education, ensuring the students are healthy and ready to learn.” Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, blogging, and photography. 

Deanna Potendyk is a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and has been a part of our Health Center staff at EPCHS for the last 22 years. Originally from Peoria Heights, Illinois, she attended Peoria Heights High School before earning her LPN license from Illinois Central College. She shares, “I want to help make a difference in someone's day/life and sometimes it's just the simple things people need to get them through their day and will remember for years to come. I love how EPCHS seeks to improve and provide opportunities to the students/community/staff. Pleasing everyone all the time is impossible but I feel efforts are made to accommodate the majority.” Outside of work, she enjoys reading, crafting, and spending time with her family.

Cindi Unes-Carter, RN is a part of our Health Center staff with 12 years of experience, two of those being at EPCHS. Born and raised in East Peoria, she is an EPCHS alum and went on to earn her Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Consumer Sciences with a Concentration in Hospitality Services. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from OSF Saint Francis College of Nursing. Cindi shares, “Both the students and the staff at EPCHS truly make this a great place to work. Every day is different here and that's what is enjoyable. You come to work and are greeted by other colleagues and peers who come to this building that we call our second home and you know that we are all here for the same goal - and that is ultimately to educate these students who walk through the doors and give them the best opportunity to succeed. Even in the Health Center, we try to keep the students healthy so they can be successful in class. We do our part in educating students, too. We discuss some of the reasons a student may be feeling sick or how to treat and injury properly and so on. I enjoy talking with the students and getting to learn about them, so when they come to visit in the Health Center, they aren't just a person needing a band-aid, but a student with a name that did well on their math test, or a softball player that hurt their hand in the game the night before. I have gotten involved in some of the sporting events and the Best Buddies program, and overall enjoy seeing the students involved in their activities.” Outside of work, her hobbies and passions include enjoying her garden, reading and writing a good book, hanging out with her dogs, and spending time with family and friends.