laconia school district HEALTH OFFICE
meet the nurses
Elm Street School: Jennifer Johnson-Blake, RN
I was born and raised in Salisbury, MA where I lived until moving to New Hampshire 17 years ago. I have worked in the medical field for 25 years in varied roles; including as a pediatric medical assistant and EMT, before becoming an RN in 2015. My role as an RN focused on critical care before accepting the position of Float Nurse for the Laconia school district in 2023. In 2024 I transitioned to Elm Street School full time.
I am married with three children; two sons and a daughter. I enjoy gardening, photography and spending time with my family.
Laconia High School: Kate Rodrigue, RN
I was born in New York and moved to NH in grade school. I graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor's degree in Nursing and began my career at Boston Children's Hospital in Massachusetts. I've always been drawn to pediatrics, and when my sons entered elementary school, I decided to explore school nursing and ultimately joined Laconia High School, where I enjoy being part of students' daily lives and supporting their well-being.
I am married and have two sons. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling with my family, exploring new places, and spending time outdoors.
Laconia Middle School: Courtney Gullage, RN
I was born and raised in Laconia, NH, and began my professional journey studying elementary education in upstate New York. After returning home while pregnant with my twin boys, I spent ten years working as an LNA in a variety of healthcare settings. During that time, I put myself through nursing school and graduated amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
My nursing experience includes caring for children with chronic medical needs in private homes, as well as working in the hospital setting, floating across multiple units. I later transitioned to a family care practice for a year before joining Laconia Middle School. Becoming a School Nurse has always been my long-term goal, and I’m grateful for the years I spent building the skills and knowledge that brought me here.
Outside of school, I stay busy with my twin boys, our rescued twin Labrador retrievers, and our three-legged rescue cat. As a family, we love movie nights, skiing, camping, swimming, traveling, exploring new places, and trying out new restaurants.
Pleasant Street School: Jamie Allen, RN
I was raised right here in Laconia and am proud to have once been a Pleasant Street School student myself. After graduating high school, I attended LRCC and earned my nursing degree in 2017. I then worked in a variety of hospital settings including medical-surgical, orthopedics, and the emergency room. I went on to earn my Bachelor of Science in Nursing from SNHU before transitioning into school nursing; my true dream job. It is my absolute pleasure to serve my community and to be a medical advocate for my students and their families.
My family and I live here in Laconia, with two of my children attending Pleasant Street and my oldest daughter at LHS. We enjoy all things sports, spending time outdoors, crafting, and of course, anything Disney.
Woodland Heights School: Jessica Ganchi, RN BSN
I was born in New Hampshire and grew up here in Laconia. After attending college and spending several years living in Maine, I eventually found my way back home. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of New Hampshire, and although my long-term goal was always to become a School Nurse, my path getting here was anything but direct. I spent many years as an adult Cardiac Care nurse at both Maine Medical Center in Portland and Concord Hospital in New Hampshire. I later moved into Family Care, working in a primary care office for three years. When my daughter reached school age in 2010, I was fortunate to step into the role of School Nurse at Woodland Heights—an opportunity that has been both meaningful and fulfilling.
I’m married with two children—a daughter and a son—and as a family we love spending time outdoors. Camping, swimming, skiing and snowboarding, and playing games together are some of our favorite ways to stay active and connected.
******************************************************************************************************
We truly love being School Nurses. We cherish your children and feel fortunate that we get to help in their education about health and wellness.
I was born and raised in Salisbury, MA where I lived until moving to New Hampshire 17 years ago. I have worked in the medical field for 25 years in varied roles; including as a pediatric medical assistant and EMT, before becoming an RN in 2015. My role as an RN focused on critical care before accepting the position of Float Nurse for the Laconia school district in 2023. In 2024 I transitioned to Elm Street School full time.
I am married with three children; two sons and a daughter. I enjoy gardening, photography and spending time with my family.
Laconia High School: Kate Rodrigue, RN
I was born in New York and moved to NH in grade school. I graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor's degree in Nursing and began my career at Boston Children's Hospital in Massachusetts. I've always been drawn to pediatrics, and when my sons entered elementary school, I decided to explore school nursing and ultimately joined Laconia High School, where I enjoy being part of students' daily lives and supporting their well-being.
I am married and have two sons. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling with my family, exploring new places, and spending time outdoors.
Laconia Middle School: Courtney Gullage, RN
I was born and raised in Laconia, NH, and began my professional journey studying elementary education in upstate New York. After returning home while pregnant with my twin boys, I spent ten years working as an LNA in a variety of healthcare settings. During that time, I put myself through nursing school and graduated amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
My nursing experience includes caring for children with chronic medical needs in private homes, as well as working in the hospital setting, floating across multiple units. I later transitioned to a family care practice for a year before joining Laconia Middle School. Becoming a School Nurse has always been my long-term goal, and I’m grateful for the years I spent building the skills and knowledge that brought me here.
Outside of school, I stay busy with my twin boys, our rescued twin Labrador retrievers, and our three-legged rescue cat. As a family, we love movie nights, skiing, camping, swimming, traveling, exploring new places, and trying out new restaurants.
Pleasant Street School: Jamie Allen, RN
I was raised right here in Laconia and am proud to have once been a Pleasant Street School student myself. After graduating high school, I attended LRCC and earned my nursing degree in 2017. I then worked in a variety of hospital settings including medical-surgical, orthopedics, and the emergency room. I went on to earn my Bachelor of Science in Nursing from SNHU before transitioning into school nursing; my true dream job. It is my absolute pleasure to serve my community and to be a medical advocate for my students and their families.
My family and I live here in Laconia, with two of my children attending Pleasant Street and my oldest daughter at LHS. We enjoy all things sports, spending time outdoors, crafting, and of course, anything Disney.
Woodland Heights School: Jessica Ganchi, RN BSN
I was born in New Hampshire and grew up here in Laconia. After attending college and spending several years living in Maine, I eventually found my way back home. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of New Hampshire, and although my long-term goal was always to become a School Nurse, my path getting here was anything but direct. I spent many years as an adult Cardiac Care nurse at both Maine Medical Center in Portland and Concord Hospital in New Hampshire. I later moved into Family Care, working in a primary care office for three years. When my daughter reached school age in 2010, I was fortunate to step into the role of School Nurse at Woodland Heights—an opportunity that has been both meaningful and fulfilling.
I’m married with two children—a daughter and a son—and as a family we love spending time outdoors. Camping, swimming, skiing and snowboarding, and playing games together are some of our favorite ways to stay active and connected.
******************************************************************************************************
We truly love being School Nurses. We cherish your children and feel fortunate that we get to help in their education about health and wellness.
