Grace Community School’s Athletics has been working very hard over the past few years to put the health and safety of all of our students first, and to provide the best medical care possible. As the school’s athletic trainer I am very proud to announce that we have been awarded the National Athletic Trainers’ Association “Safe Sports School 1st Team Award”. This is an award given to schools who are committed to providing the highest standard of medical care during physical education classes, team practices, and games so they can accomplish their own goals of great competition, winning records, fair sportsmanship, and good health.
In order to receive the award our athletic program must do all of the following:
- Create a positive athletic health care administrative system
- Provide or coordinate pre-participation physical examinations
- Promote safe and appropriate practice and competition facilities
- Plan for selection, fit function and proper maintenance of athletic equipment
- Provide a permanent, appropriately equipped area to evaluate and treat injured athletes
- Develop injury and illness prevention strategies, including protocols for environmental conditions
- Provide or facilitate injury intervention
- Create and rehearse a venue-specific Emergency Action Plan
- Provide or facilitate psychosocial consultation and nutritional counseling/education
- Be sure athletes and parents are educated about the potential benefits and risks in sports as well as their responsibilities
This award continues to set Grace Community School apart from so many others. Our entire athletic staff works to implement these policies and procedures that ensure our athlete’s safety and well-being daily. The future is bright at Grace Community and we look forward to continuing to achieve our highest potential. Go Cougars!
McKenna Lucas, M.Ed., MBA, ATC/L
Head Athletic Trainer
McKenna Lucas
Athletic Trainer
McKenna Lucas
Athletic Trainer
M.B.A., University of Texas at Tyler
McKenna received her bachelor’s in Athletic Training from the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She received her Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Tyler and a second Master’s in Educational Leadership from the University of North Texas. McKenna moved to East Texas in 2014 from Edmond, Oklahoma, and was the Athletic Trainer and Sports Medicine teacher for Overton ISD for 8 years. She has 6 fur babies at home which includes four dogs, Genna, Lucchese, Elle, and Zoey and two cats, Evie and Arya. McKenna loves to go to the movies and try new places when she has spare time.
Additional Resources
TAPPS Medical History Form, click here.
TAPPS Physical Form, click here.
To read more about concussion and traumatic brain injury, click here.
To read more about sudden cardiac arrest, click here.
To read more about Grace Athletics, click here.