AUGUSTA – The Blaine House opened its doors recently to school nurses from around the state for Maine School Nurse Day. Gov. John Baldacci proclaimed Maine School Nurse Day, which came in the middle of Nurses Week in the State of Maine.

David Noble Stockford, team leader for special services in the Maine Department of Education, joined the nurses for a Blaine House Tea and honored the work that school nurses do every day.

Marla Blake was recognized as Maine’s School Nurse of the Year by the Maine Association of School Nurses. Her nomination will be submitted to the National Association of School Nurses as a candidate for National School Nurse of the Year.

Blake, of Bowdoinham, has been a practicing school nurse for 20 years. In that time she has worked to improve the health care for children attending school. She works at Mt. Ararat High School in SAD 75, which includes Topsham, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham and Harpswell.