Patty Norris Lubold for Holyoke Schools

09/06/2026

💜Go Julius!

08/28/2026

Thank you to the teachers and staff at Holyoke High School who stayed with their students today while law enforcement completed its work. Sheltering in place with a room full of concerned and frightened young people for more than an hour, remaining steady and calm without knowing how long it would last or exactly what was happening is an extraordinary responsibility.
Thank you also to the Holyoke Police Department and the responding agencies that acted swiftly and methodically, taking the steps required in the world we live in today.
To HPS families: I know today was frightening. I am grateful that your children were in careful hands.
I have a son who is a teacher at HHS, and, like many of you, I spent the afternoon texting, searching, and calling for answers—and panicking when the Wi-Fi connection faltered. I am a mom first.
At tonight’s Ward 6 community circle meeting, there were understandably questions about communication and about the toll a hoax can take on the mental well-being of our community. As Superintendent Glasheen shared, there will be a full debrief and support services made available. My colleagues and I will be working to ensure that communication and responsiveness are addressed and aligned.
This is an opportunity to lean in and learn how to do better: to listen, redesign what failed, and double down on what worked. It is also a time to be okay with not being okay. A hoax that brings a large law-enforcement presence, K-9s, sirens, and emergency activity can evoke both reassurance and fear.
Communication is paramount at a time like this. I am grateful to Superintendent Glasheen for being at the high school with families and teachers as this unfolded.
And I am most grateful that I was able to hug my son tonight. I hope each of you had the chance to do the same.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AZDPWUvXz/?mibextid=wwXIfr

08/25/2026

Monday was a long day and the energy from the start of my morning clapping in the students at Sullivan Middle School with the HFD 🚒 and the dedicated Sullivan Team carried me through! 📚
GO STALLIONS!💚

08/24/2026

Happy First Day of School!📚🚌💜

📝Heading into a busy week of School Committee business as well!
Of interest on our agenda tonight the AI task force report out, policies needing review among other items. Meeting is at 6 at Dean.
📝On Wednesday Policy & Governance Subcommittee will meet at 6 on zoom to take up an order I filed earlier this year to discuss in part adding brief, plain-language summaries to major presentations in Committee agenda packets. This is an effort to increase understanding on key issues before meetings and participate more meaningfully.
You can find Agendas on the City’s website here https://www.holyoke.org/events

08/21/2026

Phenomenal Convocation early this morning. Incredibly inspiring and joining atmosphere. So great to be part of it and once again witness our talented students showing out for their biggest fans in one gym - Team HPS!
Key notes:
👏One Team
🤗 Connection over content
😘High Hopes
🙌Never Give up!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GthxwddML/?mibextid=wwXIfr

08/21/2026

Exciting back to school vibes at Sullivan Middle School Open House and Pre-k and Kindergarten welcome at the Merry Go Round ! Lots of families and staff smiles at Sullivan with great event and music coordination from Alex Saldana including informational tables from the community and Ward 6 Safe neighborhood initiative captain Bill Courchesne. I got to take my granddaughter “HPS student in training” for the fun and then ran into my school committee colleagues at the Merry Go Round who were doing double duty as HPS parents - Jens Michaelsen and Latitia Molina families. It’s going to be a great year! Let’s go!
🚌💜

08/19/2026

💜🚌💜

08/13/2026

Hi Ward 6 Parents - take a few minutes and to read and sign up for PowerSchool so you won’t miss any updates. 💜📚🚌

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Eg3hZwvTY/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Families: Sign up now for PowerSchool and Rooms accounts 💻🏫
Holyoke Public Schools is asking every parent/guardian to create accounts in two software platforms— PowerSchool’s Parent Portal and Rooms—to ensure you have easy access to important information about your children.
Be sure to check your email for more information! Click the link in the first comment to learn more.
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Familias: Es hora de crear las cuentas de PowerSchool y Rooms 💻🏫
Las Escuelas Públicas de Holyoke solicitan a todos los padres, madres o tutores que creen cuentas en dos plataformas informáticas: el portal para padres de PowerSchool y Rooms para garantizar que puedan acceder fácilmente a información importante sobre sus hijos.
¡Asegúrese de revisar su correo electrónico para obtener más información! Haga clic en el enlace del primer comentario para saber más.

08/05/2026

Among the first orders I filed on January 12th as your Ward 6 School Committee member was a request to understand the district’s position on Artificial Intelligence because it is critical Holyoke Public Schools including the School Committee take AI seriously and proactively, not reactively as it relates to governance and policy. This article is exactly why that follow-up matters. I am looking forward to a clear update on where the district is, how we’re aligning with DESE guidance, and what the timeline looks like for local policy and professional learning.

We can’t wait to lean in here. On the governance side, we need clear expectations around privacy, equity, and academic integrity. On the innovation side, we also need to make sure our staff and students are prepared to use AI thoughtfully and responsibly in ways that support teaching and learning and their future growth in an evolving job market.
For me, this is about being intentional now so Holyoke is not catching up later and I am extremely pleased we will receive the output at our Committee Meeting Aug. 24th.

AI policy recommendations may lead to updated student and staff guidelines this fall.

08/04/2026

Hi Ward 6,

A lot on the docket for this week! We have three important public meetings this week as it relates to Holyoke Public Schools.
These meetings and the conversations within are a chance to stay connected to the work shaping our schools, and I encourage you to take a look at the details for each meeting and share any ideas or questions that come to mind.

📆Tuesday , Aug. 4 at 6:00 p.m.: The newly formed Parent and Community Engagement Committee I chair will take place via zoom. https://hps-holyoke-ma-us.zoom.us/j/85287777627
📆Wednesday, Aug. 5 at 6:00 p.m.: Leadership and Accountability Subcommittee will meet at Holyoke High School Media Center and accessible by zoom here – of interest on the agenda is an order I filed in February Feb 9, 2026 that the Superintendent provide a report to the School Committee on the district’s current educator induction and mentoring/onboarding practices.
We will also discuss superintendent evaluation planning and an order to review treating Holyoke High North, Holyoke High Dean Campus and Opportunities Academy as three separate independent schools.

📆Thursday, Aug. 6 at 12:30 p.m.: School Committee Retreat at City Hall will take place from 1 to 4 pm.
Your voice matters and staying informed is one of the best ways to stay involved.

💡And speaking of involvement, please be on the lookout for Project Renovate this school year. This community led initiative which I am proud to volunteer for is the brainchild of Rafael Santos and many other community volunteers. Project Renovate focuses on helping transform the lives of our youth, strengthen families, and build a stronger community through sports.
“This is only the beginning. The impact won't be measured by the games we win, but by the lives we help shape,” Rafael said. “We realized that if we could transform ourselves as coaches, we could help transform the lives of our youth, strengthen families, and build a stronger community.”
You can Learn more about Rafael and sports as a catalyst in this community forum I produced this spring, called Shifting the Narrative. Great things are happening in Holyoke.💜

https://youtu.be/QseEaxjlC4w?is=XMCWP2EVLEsaI5rZ

“Shifting the Narrative: Why Won’t They Listen? It’s Not Always Wha...