Clarke County school's nurse is State School Nurse of the Year

Meredith Dykes, a registered nurse in the Clarke County School District, recently was named the state’s School Nurse of the Year by the Georgia Association of School Nurses.

The school district also announced that its Public Relations and Communications Office received a dozen awards recently at the National School Public Relations Association annual meeting.

Dykes received the award at the association’s annual conference on Jekyll Island.

Several nurses from across the state were nominated for the award which was selected by a panel of judges from the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Kennesaw State University and the nurse’s association, according to a news release from the district.

Dykes is one of more than 30 nurses and clinic assistants working in the school district. She has been a nurse for more than 20 yeas and in the school district for almost nine years.

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This past school year, district officials said she spearheaded an effort to bring free vision clinics to students through a partnership with Prevent Blindness Georgia.

Every student in the program is fitted for eyeglasses and receives two free pairs.

“Nurse Dykes is a true asset to our school nursing team,” said Amy Roark, director of school nursing. “She is well deserving of this statewide honor and recognition.”

The communications awards included materials produced as newsletters, videos podcasts, social media and other outlets.

Among the awards the school district received were for press release writing, photography, and a video that was produced in collaboration with CV House Productions on students celebrating Dr. Martin Luther’s King Jr.’s legacy.

Other awards were for its “Better Together” newsletters, the Back-to-School Guide and the Student Art Wall Calendar done in collaboration with Dan Smith.

Cyndee Perdue Moore is the executive director of public relations and communications for the district.