Jen Yoder didn’t always know she wanted to be a nurse. It wasn’t until her brother, Jonathan, was diagnosed with cancer during her high school years that she saw, firsthand, the profound impact that compassionate, skilled nursing care can have on a family in crisis.
“When I was in college, my brother passed away,” Yoder says. “We spent a lot of time in the hospital. I remember the nurses and how much they helped us. I wanted to be that help to someone else.”
That motivation to help people in a health crisis led Yoder to school nursing, a role she never expected to love as much as she does. Now, nearly 23 years into her career with
Holland Hospital, including the last 12 years as a school nurse, Yoder is making a daily difference in students' lives across
Hamilton Community Schools.
This year, Yoder’s deep commitment was recognized on a statewide level. She was named the 2025 School Nurse of the Year by the
Michigan Association of School Nurses. She finds the recognition humbling.
“I’m just doing what I love and what I feel called to do,” Yoder says. “To know that others see it as something special is incredibly meaningful.”
Wide range of duties
In her role, Yoder trains school staff, educates students on health topics, manages chronic conditions like diabetes and asthma, and administers medications. She is also often the first to recognize when a student may be dealing with deeper mental or emotional health challenges.
Perhaps most importantly, she helps families who are struggling to access health care. Something she never expected to be such a large part of her job.
“I was surprised at how many kids and families don’t have access to medical care due to barriers like transportation, insurance, or language,” Yoder says. “Being able to step in and help them navigate those challenges, it's what makes this work so important.”
![]()
Jen Yoder has been named Michigan’s School Nurse of the Year for 2025.
Yoder's colleagues praise her compassionate heart, leadership, and dedication to providing high-quality medical care.
Hamilton High School Principal Mitch Bosch, who nominated Yoder, describes her as going above and beyond to address the critical health needs of the school’s nearly 800 students.
“Her expertise and compassion are incredible, from administering insulin shots and managing students with seizures to supporting those with broken bones and other injuries. She is often the first line of support for parents navigating student illnesses, offering them guidance and reassurance during challenging times,” Bosch wrote in his nomination.
Yoder is part of a team of 13 nurses serving more than 13,000 students in 26 schools through Holland Hospital’s School Nurse Program. The program, which began in 1998, provides comprehensive health care support in 29 schools across six districts: Holland Public, Hamilton, Fennville, West Ottawa, Holland Christian, and Zeeland Christian.
During the 2023–24 school year, Holland Hospital’s school nurses had over 40,000 student encounters and administered more than 24,000 medications in conjunction with school staff.
Meeting vital needs
Hendrina Cupery, who manages the program, says school nurses like Yoder do more than care for the sick. They equip schools to respond to health emergencies and manage complex medical conditions when a nurse isn’t on site.
“Our nurses train staff on everything from asthma action plans to insulin administration,” Cupery says. “They make sure students are safe and supported every day.”
This is the second year in a row the award has been given to a school nurse from Holland Hospital.
Lisa Gort, school mental health care case manager for Holland Public Schools, was the 2024 winner.
“Having school nurses from our program win the Michigan Association of School Nurses School Nurse of the Year award two years in a row is a measure of the quality care this group of professionals delivers to the most vulnerable members of our community, our children,” Cupery says. "As their leader, I could not be more proud of Jen, Lisa and this amazing team."
The nurses’ work is especially vital in today’s schools, where mental health needs have grown significantly.
“Sometimes, a student comes in for a stomachache, and we find out they’re struggling emotionally,” she says. “It takes a skilled nurse to recognize that and respond with care.”
Yoder credits her team and the supportive leadership at Holland Hospital for making it possible for her to do meaningful work. She thinks her brother would have appreciated her path to help others.
"I know that he would be happy that I’m helping others in the way that I know he and our family appreciated them in our time of need," Yoder says. "I get to reciprocate that to the students here in the district who have needs as well.”
She will be formally recognized at a statewide ceremony on May 8 in Bay City, alongside other professionals making a difference in Michigan schools.
To learn more about Holland Hospital’s School Nurse Program, visit
hollandhospital.org/snp.