School nurse leader awarded

Administrator for Newport-Mesa district recognized by Orange County organization.Marcia BMarthaler, the Newport-Mesa Unified School District’s health services coordinator for the last eight years, won the school nurse administrator of the year award this week from the Orange County School Nurses Organization.

BMarthaler -- whose moniker is a combination of her middle initial and her surname -- was voted the county’s top head nurse by her peers in 27 other local districts. On Wednesday evening, she was honored at the Nurses Organization’s annual winter conference at the Turnip Rose in Orange.

“We’re always looking at how we can do things that are going to benefit our children in a very positive way so they can be educated to their optimum level,” BMarthaler said. “In health services, we’re making sure that happens by dealing with their health issues.”

BMarthaler’s award marks the second time that a Newport-Mesa health official has been honored in recent years. In 2004, Merry Grasska won the Orange County school nurse of the year award, only to top it the next year by winning both state and national awards.

As the health services coordinator for Newport-Mesa, BMarthaler oversees the district’s nurses, nutrition network and clinic at Rea Elementary School. She also coordinates plans for special-needs students and works with secondary teachers to ensure that they are trained in HIV and AIDS prevention.

Rob Bachman, the health and wellness coordinator for the Orange County Department of Education, said BMarthaler was the first Newport-Mesa employee to win the award. She is now eligible to apply for the Nurse Organization’s Southern Section award, which covers Orange, Los Angeles and other counties.