Practical Nursing Office and Staff
The Prince William County School of Practical Nursing faculty brings almost 100 years of nursing experience to their teaching platforms. All areas of nursing are represented, including medical, surgical, maternity, pediatrics, neonatal, emergency, and intensive care settings.
Prince William County School of Practical Nursing
8909 Euclid Ave.
Manassas, VA 20111
Office: 571-598-3907
Email: Contact the Director at [email protected]
Current Program Faculty
Tammy R. Dean, RN, BSN, Program Director
I am from upstate New York and moved here in 2002 with my military husband and two children who are now adults and have their own careers. My husband is a retired U.S. Air Force Physician Assistant and my oldest daughter followed in my husband’s footsteps and is now a Physician Assistant. My youngest daughter followed in my footsteps and has a degree in Sports Medicine and just received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from George Mason University, and lives in Texas where she works in the Medical Intensive Care Unit for the Baylor, White and Scott hospital system.
I have traveled and worked all over the United States and Germany. I have worked here in the Practical Nursing program since moving here in 2002. I began nursing as an LPN, moved on to an RN/BSN, and now am working on my MSN with an emphasis in education. When I first went into nursing, I worked on a general ENT Medical/Surgical floor and soon moved to a Neuro ICU. I then decided I needed a positive change and turned my nursing efforts into the maternal child area. I then became a Nurse Manager/Element Chief for OB and pediatrics units both inpatient and outpatient. I have also been a Director for Utilization/Medical Management. I retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserves in 2012 after serving 20 years. While living in Germany I worked in the Department of Defense Educational Activity Schools as a school nurse. While working as a school nurse I found my love for teaching. When we decided to move to this area there was a job opening for a Practical Nursing instructor. I interviewed for it the first day off the plane from Germany and got the job...the rest is history. In 2010, I took over as director of the program and now only teach minimally. I love to teach and I love nursing! I believe the nursing career field encourages people to become lifelong learners. As the director, I encourage all of our students and faculty to strive for the best and continue with their education. In my spare time, I love anything soccer, cooking new recipes that are paleo, and interior decorating, especially things like Fixer Upper and trying to do DIY projects!
Michelle Pollack, Pre-Clinical/Clinical Nursing Instructor
Michelle Pollack served the community through the nursing healthcare field since 1980. She began as a CNA in the emergency room. After earning her LPN licensure right out of high school through a program like PWCS Practical Nursing, she worked in a medical-surgical unit for six years before returning to college to earn her RN. She continued serving the community as an RN in emergency rooms, urgent care centers, private duty agencies, public school clinics, and home health care services. Every nurse is a teacher is her belief, so it fit her well to not only teach her patients about their medical condition but to begin teaching others who have a passion for nursing as she does. She taught in the Fairfax County ACE program. She is currently the first-year Instructor for the PWCS Practical Nursing Program.
Nancy Schaeffer, Pre-Clinical/Clinical Nursing Instructor
I was raised in Lancaster County, PA. Growing up, I knew I wanted to be a nurse. In 2006, I graduated from Messiah College with my BSN in nursing and set the goal that someday I would teach nursing. After nursing school, I moved and lived in multiple different states, gaining experience in different specialties of nursing. I have experience in surgical, neurosurgical, and trauma intensive care, emergency nursing, and progressive care. In 2010, I moved to Virginia and made Prince William County my home. I joined the program, after taking a few years off of nursing to raise my children, beginning first as a part-time clinical instructor. In August 2022, I joined the program as a full-time instructor, teaching both in the classroom and in the clinical setting. I live locally with my two sons, dog, cat, and bunny. I enjoy hiking, singing, baking, and playing softball. I'm excited to take part in shaping the next generation of nurses.
Ellen Walker, Pre-Clinical/Clinical Nursing Instructor
First and foremost...I love being a nurse. I have been practicing as an RN for over 42 years. I have seen so many changes in professional nursing. I have also experienced that our traditional core nursing values of integrity, continuous education, and dedication to and advocacy for the well-being of our clients have remained a constant in our trusted profession.
All of my nursing practice has been at the bedside. Most of my experience has been in critical care and procedural areas. ICU, OR, NICU, PACU, GI/endoscopy, cath lab, private care for a vented C1-C2 quadriplegic for 32 years. I also served as a medical transport/flight nurse in the Asian Pacific Rim. I have truly enjoyed it all. I became a Visiting Professor for a university as a clinical instructor in 2016. That educational endeavor ignited a fire in me. I find it so professionally rewarding to help facilitate the growth, knowledge, and transition into the professional practice of nursing students. I am inspired by their passion, compassion, ideas, digital/technical/IT skills, and thirst for knowledge. I have such confidence in the new era of nursing and nurses. I am presently in my third year as an instructor for the PWCS Practical Nursing program. It has been a challenging position that keeps my education “flame” burning. I feel so fortunate to be surrounded by such a dedicated and knowledgeable staff.
On a personal note, I am originally from Brooklyn, New York. I have made Virginia my home after being a military wife and mother. I am a very family-oriented person. I have two grown daughters, a husband, and a wonderful son-in-law. I am a proud "Grandma Louie" to my grandsons Raylan and Amory. I have four sisters and a mother (Dolly) that all reside in the New York area. I love to travel and learn about history, people and cultures. I am so proud to be part of a wonderful team of nurse educators that continue to mentor and encourage me. I consider myself a true “lifelong learner.”
Debra Midkiff, ROP Nursing Instructor
As I reflect on my nursing career, I have been very blessed to be a part of such a wonderful profession. I started pediatric nursing at Children’s Hospital. There I learned the art of NICU and PICU nursing. I went to work at Inova Fairfax and Fair Oaks Hospital in their NICUs. In 2001, I was hired by PWCS as a school nurse. In 2013, I joined PWCS Practical Nursing Program. I have learned to embrace surgical nursing and geriatric nursing through teaching. I have truly enjoyed teaching and mentoring younger nurses. When they have passed their NCLEX, this is the moment that being a nursing instructor is most gratifying. To know that their hard work and persistence have paid off, and they are able to start their own nursing journey. Being a nursing instructor has taught me the art of nursing in many different areas.
In 2019, my father passed away which has given me the responsibility to be the legal guardian of my disabled brother. He lives in a group home outside of Chicago, Illinois. I retired in 2020, so I could spend more time assisting with my brother’s care. Family is very important to me. I have three sons, Nathan, Tyler, and Evan, and three wonderful daughters-in-law. Nathan and Tyler live in the area. My youngest son, Evan, and his wife, Lee, live in Buffalo, New York. I also have two grandchildren, who I love to see as much as possible. My husband and I enjoy camping, boating, hiking, and the outdoors. We love to do these activities with our family. Currently, I am currently participating in the PWCS Retirement Opportunity Program (ROP). The program allows me to work reduced hours and still enjoy teaching nursing students. I have met many wonderful people throughout my nursing journey and consider all of them to be my extended family.