Holyoke Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Jackie Glasheen being interviewed for the vacant superintendent role before eventually being selected.
Photo credit: Holyoke Media
HOLYOKE — After interviewing three finalists last week, the Holyoke School Committee selected Assistant Superintendent Jackie Glasheen as the district’s next superintendent during a meeting on Feb. 12.
Glasheen most recently has served as the district’s assistant superintendent since June 2025, but she has served in multiple roles in Holyoke Public Schools since 1992. She was a substitute teacher, special education teacher, assistant principal, school supervisor and principal. Glasheen also graduated from Holyoke High School.
“The Holyoke Public Schools are in a pivotal moment,” Glasheen stated in her interview. “Leaving state receivership and embarking on a journey back to local control, which we haven’t had in 10 years. There are moments in a district where we need a new set of eyes, and we need someone to look at the puzzle. I feel strongly that at this moment in the Holyoke public schools, we need somebody, a strong leader with institutional and community knowledge in order to leverage all the resources needed to support our students, and I feel at this time the Holyoke Public Schools needs Jackie Glasheen.”
With that decision made, contract negotiations will commence until salary is finalized. It is anticipated that Glasheen will assume the role of superintendent effective July 1.
This July will mark the first time in more than a decade that HPS will be led by a superintendent who was selected by the Holyoke School Committee following an intensive search and interview process.
The other two finalists were Carmen Melendez Quintero, executive director of inclusive education at Boston City Schools, and Annie Azarloza, interim superintendent of schools at Northumberland, Stratford and Stark Schools in New Hampshire.
Each finalist was interviewed on three consecutive nights from Feb. 10-12.
“We had three excellent candidates,” said School Committee Chair Dr. Yadilette Rivera-Colón, noting that Glasheen “will hit the ground running. She knows the district. She knows where we are strong and where we are not doing well. She knows where we need to focus so we can continue to improve.”
In her new role, Glasheen said she would like to ensure high-quality instruction in every single classroom and make sure teachers and students have what they need to thrive. She also said she wants to help build a culture of belonging where the Holyoke community, schools, staff and students feel united, valued and inspired.
“We have a lot of repair work to do,” she stated. “I feel deeply responsible to lead the Holyoke Public Schools, especially at this moment in time. I’m committed to this community, I was born and raised in this community, I’ve spent my career supporting students and families in this community.”
During the 10 years of receivership, HPS had three receivers, including Soto, who took on the role of interim superintendent in July when local governance was restored. Soto chose not to apply for the permanent superintendent position when it was posted in December 2025. He plans to remain at Holyoke Public Schools as chief of finance and operations.
With Holyoke Public Schools serving a predominantly diverse community, Glasheen shared her experiences working with students and families facing systemic barriers shaped her leadership.
“What I learned as a leader is you have to meet families where they are, and every family is in a different spot,” Glasheen said. She highlighted a time when she was at Kelly Elementary School, and students were struggling with their literacy.
Glasheen explained that she had a Kelly School mom host a “home literacy party” and invite 10 other Kelly School moms.
“We asked you to host, and if you said yes, we said great, Invite 10 of you mom friends who have children at Kelly School who might be struggling with literacy. I’m going to bring dinner. We’re going to come to your house, and we’re going to talk … and take activities that you can do at home that will support the work that we’re doing at school.”
Glasheen said with the teachers help, the initiative took off. She said kids reading levels who participated in the literacy parties improved.
Glasheen concluded her interview by sharing her entry plan with the School Committee, which included her thoughts and goals for the first six months. She also welcomed feedback from the School Committee.
“I want you to know that I am committed; that this is my life’s work, and this is what Holyoke needs right now,” she concluded.
