HOLYOKE — The two open seats on the Holyoke School Committee for Ward 1 and Ward 4 have been filled by new interim members Gladys Lebron-Martinez and Orlando Isaza.
In the joint meeting of the Holyoke City Council and School Committee on Oct. 3, Lebron-Martinez was named to the Ward 1 seat in a 12-9-1 vote, while Isaza was named to the Ward 4 seat in a 13-8 vote. The two interim members will serve out the remaining two-year terms on the committee before voters will have the opportunity to elect candidates in a regular election.
The vacancies came following the resignation of elected School Committee representatives Gustavo Romero of Ward 1 and Gloria Caballero-Roca of Ward 4. Both representatives cited they could not commit the same time and energy toward the position.
Lebron-Martinez is a former city councilor and School Committee member, and is well known for her passionate advocacy for students and the people of Holyoke. She is being honored later this month by the Carlos Vega Fund for Social Justice as its 2024 Social Justice Award recipient.
She explained during her interview that her 14 years of experience at MassHire would help in the work now as a School Committee member as she has experience with community engagement on many levels. She added in her initial stint on the committee she was committed to creating change for any unfair systems in the schools that were impacting students.
“I started visiting our local areas to understand where the Latino community is because a lot of issues of healthcare and disparities was happening in our community and I needed to understand where the issues are at,” Lebron-Martinez said of her work over the years in the city, both as a councilor and School Committee member.
When asked if she had plans to run again at the next election if appointed, Lebron-Martinez said, “most definitely.”
“I feel that I have a lot to share and to support our families and this is why I’m interested in this position,” Lebron-Martinez said. “If the community chooses me to do so I am going to run again and would not have a problem doing so.”
Isaza explained he came to the city in 1982 after being recruited to open a mental health clinic for the growing Puerto Rican community as a clinician and community activist. He went on to become the founder of the Prenatal Care Center in Holyoke.
Isaza also spoke of his experience as a special assistant of human services of the Boston Housing Authority in 1976. He explained his work was focused on developing a model to transition out of receivership that would supersede the old activities of the housing authority so it could move to a new and better location.
He added he has also studied sociology and economics as an undergraduate and has graduate degrees in social welfare, sociology of medicine.
“I am here because I love Holyoke. I would like to serve in any position,” Isaza said. “I am glad to present my name for your consideration.”
Isaza said he had the intention to run for the position when it became open at the end of the remaining term.
The filling of vacancies on the School Committee comes following the plan to exit receivership was approved in August between the School Committee’s local control subcommittee and the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
A recording of the public interviews in their entirety can be viewed on HolyokeMedia.com.
