Nancy West - A Lifetime of Heart, Health, and Community in Edinburgh
For many who grow up in a military family, "home" is a moving target. But for long-time resident and retired Edinburgh Community School Corporation school nurse, Nancy West’s story with Edinburgh began in 1956 when her father, Lt. Colonel A.J. Christopher, was assigned as commander of Camp Atterbury. Arriving with her mother, Ruth Christopher, after living in places as far as Japan, the inactive camp complete with its original wooden barracks proved to be an adventure.
"We had horses, dogs, cats, and a big house that is now used by the DNR," she recalls. "It was the longest time we had lived in one place, and it was a lot of fun."
After a four-year stint at Atterbury, her father served in Thailand while the family moved into a newly built home on North Clay Street. Following his retirement, Lt. Col. Christopher came home to Edinburgh, started a local business, served on the Edinburgh Town Board, and in 1964, the family moved into the historic Cutsinger house at 505 East Main Cross Street. Nancy’s parents eventually relocated to Tennessee years later, but by then, Edinburgh had firmly planted itself as her true hometown.
A proud member of the Edinburgh High School Class of 1967, she looks back fondly on a small-town upbringing that helped her blossom.
"I was a little shy, and going to a big school would’ve been overwhelming. Being from a small school and knowing most of the kids was very good for me."
Her high school years were filled with quintessential small-town memories including favorite classes in history, sociology, and literature with teachers like Mr. Shepler and Mr. Demaree, post-game dances, packed gyms for the Johnson County Basketball Tournament, and sunny afternoons at the newly opened Amos Memorial Swimming Pool in 1965. Alongside a close-knit group of girlfriends who remain her close friends to this day she cheered in the cheer block and even helped establish the school's very first pom-pom group to march with the band.
After earning her nursing degree from Indiana Central College (now the University of Indianapolis) in 1972 and working on the 1 West Unit and OB department at Johnson Memorial Hospital, a career shift opened up in 1980.
Encouraged by a friend, Nancy interviewed with Superintendent Dr. Ross Sharp and took on the role of School Nurse for Edinburgh Community School Corporation. It was a match made in heaven with her son, Jon, who was entering second grade, allowing their schedules to align perfectly.
Over the next 30 years, split between East Side Elementary and Edinburgh High School, she became a familiar, comforting presence to generations of students before retiring in May 2011.
"I realized after I started that I knew a lot of people whose kids were in our schools, so now I was getting to know all their kids! I feel so lucky to have been the school nurse for 30 years. It was a gift for me."
Her devotion to the community extends well beyond the nurse's station. Over the years, she has remained deeply active in the Edinburgh Methodist Church, Tri Kappa Sorority, and the Edinburgh Fellowship of Churches, which operates the local food pantry. In 2016, she represented the area as a torch carrier in the Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay which carried the torch through the state's 3,200-mile journey across all 92 counties.
Life came full circle when she reconnected with an old school acquaintance, Bill. Both divorced at the time, they ran into each other, began dating, and married in 1979 and are celebrating 47 wonderful years together.
Her family's roots in Edinburgh education run deep. Nancy's brother, Tom, was two years older than her and graduated from Edinburgh High School in the Class of 1965, went on to graduate from Purdue with a degree in Civil Engineering. Nancy’s son, Jon Price, Edinburgh Class of 1991, earned his Doctorate in Education from ISU in 2025, served as Middle School Principal at Edinburgh Middle School, held administrative roles at IPS, and taught at Hauser and Waldron. Today, Jon and his wife, Clevette, are enjoying a year-long camping adventure across the western U.S. Her grandson Riley Price is another proud Edinburgh graduate from the class of 2013.
Reflecting on decades of watching students grow, her advice to today’s youth is straightforward and heartfelt.
"Be kind to others and yourself. This is so important, and it will mean a lot to you as you get older. Other kids and teachers will always remember you for that reason. It is a very easy thing to do: love others as you would love yourself, and you will be a happy, healthy person!"
For Nancy, Edinburgh has never been just a place on a map; it is the foundation of her life and community. "I love this little town and the people in it," Nancy said. "Edinburgh is my home! It has always been home and family to me. I can’t imagine living anywhere else."
Sherri Sweet, Secretary to the Superintendent and School Board, profiles an ECHS alumnus once a month. To learn more about the Edinburgh School Corporation, its alumni and activities, visit ecsc.k12.in.us