A true spirit of service is often marked by a quiet dedication — the kind that seeks fulfillment not in praise, but in the satisfaction of making a difference. Yet, even the most selfless acts of hard work and compassion deserve to be recognized. Gratitude and acknowledgment not only honor individual effort but also strengthen the sense of community and shared purpose within our schools.
The Holyoke School District has long celebrated this balance between humble service and well-earned recognition. Through events such as Classified Staff Week, National Principals Month, Teacher Appreciation Week, and many others, the district expresses its deep appreciation for the people who make our schools thrive. We also honor staff for every five years of service to the school district.
Building on this proud tradition, the administration and Board of Education have established the Staff Member of the Month Program. This program provides an opportunity for colleagues to recognize one another for embodying the district’s core values of Respect, Integrity, Safety, Excellence, Ownership, and Achievement (RISE and or SOAR)—whether through their daily dedication or through exceptional efforts beyond their normal responsibilities. Each month, two honorees are selected and invited to a School Board Meeting to be publicly recognized for their outstanding contributions.
Through these efforts, Holyoke School District continues to affirm its belief that great work—whether seen or unseen—deserves to be celebrated, and that those who serve with heart and excellence inspire all of us to rise together.
This month we recognize:
Jessica French
Mrs. French has a full schedule with a variety of classes and ages and no repeated preps. Then she makes sure that everything is organized as a director for our plays. Then she is involved in the community and lots of different events. All of this reflects well on our school and gives students opportunities they wouldn't otherwise have. Her new Performing Arts class has helped to give kids many opportunities that don't exist anywhere else in our school this year without a band teacher. French consistently goes above and beyond to make our students' lives and educations better and she deserves our recognition.
Yesenia Bencomo
Mrs. Yesenia Bencomo is an outstanding educator and is a true bright spot in our building. She epitomizes a LEARNER, and she helps her students to strive to be great LEARNERS as well. Bencomo is very committed to improving her skills as a teacher and increasing her knowledge in the field of education. She stays on top of the most recent developments, theories, and ideas which will enhance her teaching skills. She is also constantly looking for ways that she can help the rest of the staff in working with our ESL students. Mrs. Marquez and she have even taken time to record training videos for our staff filled with a wealth of information about working with ELL's and giving valuable tips and strategies each of us can use.
Bencomo's classroom is a welcoming and fun place, filled with excitement, humor, support, and lots of learning. Bencomo makes each and every lesson meaningful for her students, and she is great at keeping them engaged and focused. She expects a lot from her students, and she does an expert job of maintaining that balance between offering the support that is needed while also encouraging them to spread their wings and gain independence and confidence. It is exciting to see her students growing by leaps and bounds as the school year progresses.
Bencomo definitely brings a lot of joy to her fellow staff members as well. Her great sense of humor never fails to bring a smile or add a laugh when needed. She is very active on the Sunshine Committee helping plan special celebrations or activities to add joy to the entire building. Her warmth and compassion can be felt by all. Having Bencomo on our staff and being able to work with her every day is amazing!