Christian Bertel was nominated by an anonymous colleague.
Mrs. Bertel has been with Hazelwood School District since 2000 and has served as the district's health services coordinator since 2016. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, district board members, leaders, employees, families, and community members turned to Mrs. Bertel to guide them through what to do and how to understand the metrics on COVID-19. She worked closely with the Saint Louis County Department of Public Health to understand the data around COVID-19 in the community. Then, she took that information and presented it at every HSD board meeting to educate the district and the community.
Through Mrs. Bertel's guidance, the district implemented the award-winning Help Hazelwood Get Healthy campaign in the fall of 2020. This campaign encourages and reminds community members to wear a mask, wash their hands, and practice social distancing. Mrs. Bertel planned and organized a district-wide Help Hazelwood Get Healthy Resource Event. She and her team spent countless hours putting resource kits together and distributing them on a Saturday afternoon to all Hazelwood families. With Mrs. Bertel's guidance and the Help Hazelwood Get Healthy campaign, HSD was able to safely welcome employees and students back to in-person learning in March of 2021. Additionally, Mrs. Bertel partnered with organizations to set up COVID-19 vaccination events for the district's employees, students, and partners.
"Mrs. Bertel has not only been working tirelessly on supporting and educating our community on COVID-19, but she continues to provide education and resources on other health issues, including dental, physical, and mental health," said the nominator.
Mrs. Bertel doesn’t just oversee all school-based health and wellness services, including the nurses in the district's 33 schools. She also cares for the entire community. Whether she's standing out in cold, rainy weather on a Saturday to hand out COVID-19 resource kits to community members, or delivering food and supplies to people in quarantine, Mrs. Bertel goes above and beyond to ensure all Hazelwood students, employees, and community members have the tools and information they need to live safe, healthy lives. She makes a beneficial difference in every person’s life.
At Care to Learn, we know just how amazing Christian is! She goes above and beyond when it comes to helping students. Hazelwood is a school district that stayed virtual from March 2020-March 2021. During that time Christian kept all of the Care to Learn supplies and packed hygiene bags and health kits in her home to ensure they could be distributed to students as needed. She and her team also go out of their way to meet the health needs of their students.
Well deserved! Christian is supportive, knowledgeable, and helpful. She is an asset to the district and always goes above and beyond for families, students, and coworkers.
I was honored to work with Christian, when she served as the school nurse for McNair Elementary. During that time she was a very valuable mentor and resource for other school nurses. She is very deserving of this nomination. She truly displays what it means to be a nurse-caring, compassionate, an educator, and one that keeps working tirelessly until the job is done. She is a true asset to the nursing field and the Hazelwood community at large. Congratulations!!
Well deserved Mrs Bertel. Congratulations!
I've known Christian professionally and personally for 28 years. I am a Social Worker with 40 years experience working with multiple caregiver organizations. I know what constitutes an exceptional lifechangers as i have worked with numerous outstanding caregivers. Christian represents those caring qualities more than anyone I have known. It is not only in her work role, she also advocates and provides for those in need outside of work as it is her intrinsic character to help others.
I observed her as a building School Nurse not only meet the medical needs of students but extend herself to obtain medical & practical needs of students, families and staff beyond her building role. I often worked with students, parents, colleagues & administrators as recipients of her care & heard their very positive description of her services.
I believe myself to be a really good Social Worker but Christian's level of caring & dedication tended to make me continually examine whether I should be doing more. I believe other caregivers & organizations aspire to do more because of the admirable example she sets.
I supported Christian pursuing the Hazelwood Coordinator of Health Services because I recognized how she would bring an exceptional level of caring, dedication & professionalism to that role. She has an ability to relate to diverse population and create a bond to help unify during crises such as the pandemic.
In her advocacy, Christian will also confront in a professional & caring manner any inadequacies she perceives in an individual or organization. We need her type of caring on a large scale. She can not only change individual lives but help change organizations to affect many lives.
I believe that recognition of Christian as a National Lifechanger is not only warranted but may open avenues for her to further extend her notable degree of caring, effectiveness and influence beyond her school district.
Christian you deserve this award for ALL the hard work you have done this last year. You have put you heart and soul into keeping our district safe and healthy. This district couldn't have made it this far without all you have done. You are an amazing nurse, friend, co worker and so much more. Thank you for all you do!
I have the privilege of working with Ms. Bertel as a site administrator. She has helped me create plans to keep our children safe during the return to school. She is extremely knowledgeable and infinitely patient. In addition, when we had a building situation and our nurse was out of the building, Ms. Bertel jumped right in and helped. She is a consummate professional and a lovely person. My school district is so very fortunate to have her.
Dear Christian,
I am so excited to see your nomination for this award! You are truly deserving of this recognition! In order to list all of the things you have done for the Hazelwood School District would require me to write a novel! You work tirelessly for the students, families and staff of our district and you are most certainly deserving of this honor.
Thank you for all that you do for our Early Childhood Education Program. The consistent support and insight that you provide to me helps to insure our youngest learners have all that they need everyday at school.
Your smile lights up a room and your heart for kids is never-ending. I truly appreciate your dedication and pursuit of excellence!
Thank you for being you!
Teri Edwards
Director
Hazelwood Early Childhood Education
She deserves this recognition, she always has a positive attitude and works tirelessly to keep our staff, students and community safe and well cared for.
I would like to express my appreciation to Mrs. Christian Bertel, a leader who has shown great encouragement and full support, not only through this difficult time with COVID, but each and every day. Her kindness, understanding, and knowledge is greatly appreciated and shows what a great leader she is. Along with her being a great mentor, teacher, and guide, her support and advice has helped shape my professional career. Thank you for being the best boss ever!
Several years ago I had made plans to go with Christian Bertel and her Mother to a Women's Conference. Unfortunately I became disabled and was forced to use a wheelchair when the Conference time was upon us. Christian Bertel drove her car with my wheelchair in the back of her car and made me feel so comfortable. Each step of the way of the conference she made sure that I was taken care of and was able to see the speakers and music ministry. I must admit that I was hesitant to go. And it was Christian Bertel who saved my spirit by going on that trip. Being disabled forced me to not go to special events, but Christian Bertel was determined to see my spirit soar, and it did that special trip. Thank you so very much Christian Bertel for seeing to it that everyone who joined us down there knew me and that everyone had a great time. You are an incredible woman who carries many hats and you do it so well. God bless you and your family for all of the support you give to the community and your family. Thank you so very much!
I just want to express that Christian Bertel is definitely a life changer. No matter what she is faced with she will always go above and beyond what is required. Her passion shows in her love for the students, families and school staff/nurses. The time she spends as well as the things she does is so much more than any job description.
It makes me proud to see all her accomplishments. It also makes me proud that others see what a remarkable person she. Christian Bertel is most worthy of this award for LifeChanger of the Year.
Christian is one of the most professional women I know. She works tirelessly for Hazelwood School District and for the nursing team she has put together.
HSD is SO fortunate to have Mrs. Bertel leading our health services program! Her knowledge and expertise is unmatched! She is tirelessly focused on student and staff wellness. Equally important, she is genuinely kind and welcoming to all! Christian deserves this nomination and so much more! She is just flat out AWESOME! Thank you for all you do for HSD, Mrs. Bertel!
