LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Jill Teerlinck

Position: School Nurse
School: Colona Grade School
School District: Colona School District #190
City, State: Colona, IL

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Music that Describes Jill

Jill Teerlinck was nominated by her colleague, Chrissy Winters.

Ms. Teerlinck has been the school nurse at Colona Grade School for over 20 years. She began her career there shortly after graduating nursing school. Although things have changed a lot since then, Ms. Teerlinck has been the one positive constant for the students. She is an invaluable asset to Colona School.

"Jill is one of the most kind and compassionate people I know," said Winters. "She has always made it her priority to get to know each child on an individual basis. She knows what kind of Band-Aid they like, how many dogs they have, what their parents do for work, and when they need a little extra attention some days."

Once COVID-19 hit, things changed for everyone, especially Ms. Teerlinck. She was no longer just the school nurse, but the person responsible for administering a vaccine clinic at the school for staff. She also conducts COVID-19 testing on all staff, tests students who have symptoms, and keeps track of who needs to be quarantined and when they can return. Ms. Teerlinck had to enter extra paperwork into a national database and keep up with the ever-changing mandates while still taking care of the daily needs of her students and staff.

"Jill has remained calm under pressure and still proves to be such an amazing colleague, friend, and caretaker. I believe she is very deserving of this honor," said Winters.

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Comments (7)

Rebecca McShane Posted over a year ago

We absolutely Love Nurse Jill!! She is extremely caring, kind, loving and Patient. She always knows just what my daughter needs when she comes to her office. It gives me comfort knowing that Nurse Jill is there when my daughter needs anything. I feel like she treats each and every student as they are her own. I could not have picked a better nurse to care for and comfort my daughter during her times of need. That is a great feeling that I have not experienced until we met Nurse Jill. <3

Elly Norville Posted over a year ago

Jill is an amazing nurse and honestly overall human being! She is caring, compassionate and dedicated to the students and staff of Colona Grade School. She has been the glue holding our school together and I can't express my gratitude for her enough! Jill is a life changer on a daily basis and she has kept her smile and compassion amidst a pandemic.

Donna Piekos Posted over a year ago

There is NO ONE better! She is such an amazing young lady! Nurse Jill is loved by all who know her. She never ceases to amaze me! Her job was hard enough before the pandemic, I can’t even imagine now. Perfectly said, Chrissy!

Ashley Erichsen Posted over a year ago

Nurse Jill is absolutely amazing. She gets to know the students personally also the parents. When you need to call her and you say your name you know she knows exactly who you are and who your child is. She’s so easy to talk to, my little girl had scraped her knees up pretty bad over the summer. Nurse Jill helped me keep them clean and get her new bandaids if she needed them while at school. My daughter felt comfortable with nurse Jill changing out her bandaids when at home only I could do it because she was scared it would hurt. Nurse Jill is so loving and compassionate with her students. We are so lucky to have her.

Dr Carl Johnson Posted over a year ago

Jill is so much more than the perfect school nurse! She has consistently proven her dedication and professionalism on a daily basis and the pandemic has only reinforced this. I can say with no reservation that we would not have been able to continue on our path without her on our side!

Alex Hunt Posted over a year ago

Jill - even after all these years since my kids were watched over by you and the Colona team, I still think about how very grateful I was in that challenging time for your compassion and care (and never-ending fountain of patience!). Owen had so much going on medically, and while I had plenty of worry I knew you would keep an eye out for him at school. Your calm way of handling things and supporting him/us helped me tremendously - and receiving that photo of you and the staff and teachers wearing your "Owen" shirts while he was in heart surgery is something I will never forget. Thank you for everything you did, and everything you still do, day in and day out. Colona is so lucky to have you!

Teresa Juehring Posted over a year ago

Jill is such an asset to Colona School. She is competent and caring and so deserving of this honor!