News Releases
 October Employee of the Month:
Jerry Cazares, Head Custodian, Kimball Hill School
“Jerry lives here at the school,” an office staff member said of Jerry Cazares, head custodian at Kimball Hill School. “In the winter, Jerry comes early to clear sidewalks. On weekends, he’s at school doing maintenance that can’t be accomplished during the week. When a night custodian is out, he stays late. Jerry is outside mornings and after school to ensure children enter and leave the building safely,” his nominator said.
Jerry has “lived” at Kimball Hill for nearly 32 years. He was on the job during the razing of the old building and the construction of the new facility, dedicated in 1991. He’s worked with six principals, and over the years, he’s seen thousands of elementary children pass through the halls of Kimball Hill—including his own children. “If you need something,” said his nominator, “just ask. Jerry does it all with a smile and a friendly attitude.”
He was born in Texas, but grew up in Elk Grove Village and Palatine. Jerry attended junior high at Stuart R. Paddock, then a K-8 school, and graduated from Fremd High School. Before joining District 15, he was a tool and die man for a company that made roof nails. His career with District 15 and Kimball Hill began when his dad told him he’d heard that the district was looking for help. When Jerry called, he was told, “Go straight to Kimball Hill School. We’ll do the personnel paperwork tomorrow.”
He’s been there ever since. When the head custodian retired, Jerry stepped in to take charge of maintaining not only the school building itself, but also the grounds, the David Hill Mission Control Center, and the Owen Garriott Discovery Learning Center.
“There are so many good things about my job, but I think the best thing is the staff and concern for the students. We’re family and friends here—it’s not just a work environment,” Jerry said. “The community takes pride in our school, too. We have wonderful volunteers.” He’s “Mr. Jerry” or just “Jerry” to the students. “They don’t know my last name,” he said, “but they respect me in every way.”
Jerry has lived in Rolling Meadows for nearly 28 years. When he’s not at the school, he enjoys working around his house and spending time with and helping out his family: daughter Maria and her husband John; son Jerry, Jr., and his wife Jennifer; daughter Vanessa, her husband Jacob, and 13-year-old grandson Marco; and son Adam.
Jerry will be recognized at the October 11, 2006, Board of Education meeting, to be held at Walter R. Sundling Junior High School, at 7 p.m.
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