Emma Pascarella sees education as a form of social justice and her profession as a teacher as a means to advance equity for children in low-income, diverse and undeserved communities.
Named a Teach Plus Massachusetts 2022-2023 fellow this week, Pascarella, a first-grade teacher at Holyoke’s Lt. Clayre Sullivan Elementary School, will use the coming year to advocate for programs and policies that can bring about changes statewide to level the field of opportunities for all children.
“I have always been interested in education policy, and I believe that education is a form of social justice and teaching in Holyoke propelled my advocacy work,” Pascarella said. “In this group, I have the opportunity to work on impactful policy, and I will be able to bring that experience back to Holyoke.”
Pascarella has been in education for 18 years and with the Holyoke Public Schools since 2020.
She is among 19 educators from across the state selected by the program based on a demonstration of strong commitment to equity, advocacy, a pursuit of excellence and innovation in the classroom.
“Emma is a passionate educator who believes that education policy has a direct impact on decisions which impact student success,” said Christopher Marino, Teach Plus Massachusetts executive director.
During the fellowship, teacher leaders will write op-ed commentaries on the policy topics that they are working on and meet with legislators while advocating for policy solutions to achieve positive outcomes for students, said Teach Plus spokesperson Miles Halpine.
“The new fellows will continue to work alongside coalition partners, education leaders and policymakers to ensure that teacher expertise is included in the most important decisions impacting our students,” Marino said.
Pascarella is working on policies related to teacher advocacy and closing the wage gap between pre-kindergarten and elementary educators.
She hopes to also work to help create programs where teachers’ voices can be elevated as well on joining efforts to ensure affordable, equitable access to early education and increasing educator diversity within the Holyoke Public Schools.
Teach Plus recruits potential leaders who are then asked to submit applications. Those selected will work together in the fellowship, Halpine told The Republican.
“We will come together once a month with senior fellows to practice policy-writing skills, to raise awareness or influence legislators decisions on new policy,” Pascarella said.
According to Teach Plus, the mission “is to empower excellent, experienced and diverse teachers to take leadership over key policy and practice issues that advance equity, opportunity, and student success.”
In April 2015, Holyoke Public Schools was designated as chronically underperforming and the district was placed in state receivership. The district continues to work to attain sustained high performance.
Recently partnering with the central office as a liaison, Pascarella is among the city’s educators who have collaborated on the Holyoke Public Schools’ initial 2022 strategic plan. She was involved in drafting and developing the Learners Profile, a key component of strategic plan.
The Teach Plus fellow seems to align with the new vision, mission and direction of Holyoke Public Schools, said Sullivan School Principal Sacha Garcia-Mailloux.
In addition, Pascarella is a member of the Teachers Advisory Group that meets with the superintendent and other educators on school-specific logistics as the district works on rezoning, she said.
Pascarella said she believes being a Teach Plus fellow will provide an opportunity to build on the district’s momentum by allowing her to bring her education, experience and empathy to the table.
“It ties together nicely,” she said. “I will be able to better understand language, the process and translate my experience into policy that will create change, support and understanding.”
“I am excited to see the skills and strategy’s she (Pascarella) picks up at the fellow and will be eager to see how it will be implemented at Holyoke Public Schools to benefit of students,” Garcia-Mailloux said.
Since 2008, Teach Plus has trained educators in a range of equity-focused topics providing skills when advocating for change in policy, and the decisions that can impact student success.
“Teach Plus Policy Fellows have engaged decision makers and legislators on many issues including equitable use of school funding, social emotional learning, and anti-bias and anti-racist work in our schools,” Marino said.
This year in Massachusetts, the working group topics include equitable funding, recruitment and retention, LGBTQ+ advocacy and early childhood education, said Halpine.
“We are proud of the impact our work has had on students and education priorities across the state,” Marino said.
