Carolyn Engleson, the school nurse at Mary B. Neal Elementary School, was named Nurse of the Year on Monday, May 7 by the Maryland Nurses Association, District 9.

The Nurse of the Year Award recognizes achievements, professionalism, and outstanding contributions to nursing and nurses whose practice positively affects patients, families, colleagues, students and the community.

She was nominated for the award by Neal Principal Carol Leveillee for her care and attention to students and staff, and for her professional and kind demeanor. Neal staff members also submitted letters of support for her nomination and call Engleson "the heart" of the school building.

Engleson has been the school nurse at Neal since the school opened in 2008, and was at Mary H. Matula Elementary School for five years prior. She has been a registered nurse for 27 years, and a pediatric registered nurse for nine years. Engleson has been with the Charles County Department of Health since 2003, and has also worked at Southern Maryland Hospital Center, Alexandria Hospital, and Mt. Vernon Hospital.

District 9 of the Maryland Nurses Association includes registered nurses in Charles, Calvert and St. Mary's counties. For more information on the Maryland Nurses Association, visit http://www.marylandrn.org/.

Charles County Public Schools provides 26,700 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 35 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Patricia Vaira, Title IX Coordinator and Section 504 Coordinator (students), or Keith Hettel, Section 504 Coordinator (employees/adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, Maryland 20646; (301) 932-6610/870-3814. For special accommodations call (301) 934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.