Cheers and balloons as six Holyoke teachers earn top teaching honors
HOLYOKE ― A wave of cheers and balloons swept through Holyoke schools last week as six educators were surprised in their classrooms with 2026 Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Awards .
Since 2003, the annual awards honor educators across Western Massachusetts.
More than 100 teachers receive the award each year. In Holyoke, six teachers are chosen from nearly 500 in the district, Interim Superintendent Anthony Soto said.
This year's winners include Bevan Brunelle, who teaches theater, media and senior seminar at Holyoke High School North; Rebecca Fuentes, a prekindergarten teacher at Kelly School; and Jennifer Haugsjaahabink, a science teacher at Morgan School.
The other honorees are Matthew Lacasse, a physical education teacher at McMahon School; Julie Ortiz, a school counselor at Sullivan Middle School; and Laura Skwira, a Therapeutic Intervention Program teacher for grades K–2 at Lawrence School.
Soto visited each school and entered the educators' classrooms carrying flowers, balloons, photo posters, pom-poms, gifts and a proclamation from Holyoke Mayor Joshua A. Garcia to announce that they had been selected.
Soto said he didn't even need to read the full recommendation to know that Brunelle is an outstanding teacher.
"You have such a huge impact on so many people's lives, we are so lucky to have you here in HPS and our students are lucky to have a teacher of your caliber," Soto said.
At McMahon, Lacasse was greeted in the gym by cheering students and staff. Soto handed him balloons as Lacasse made his way around the room.
Soto said he hears "a lot of great things" about Lacasse and noted that he recently attended a School Committee meeting, where he was able to showcase his work with students.
"From what I understand students come here; they learn about accountability. They learn how to be better people, how to work together and they go back to class ready to exemplify those same qualities," Soto said.
Lacasse's family was there for the surprise. "My family is the reason why I think I am in this position right now. They have just supported me in my life. My parents, my brothers — I think this is why this recognition is happening, because of the examples they provided for me. I am very thankful for everything you guys have done," he said to his parents.
Ortiz, a counselor at Sullivan Middle School, was led into the cafeteria, where Soto waited with a crowd of cheering students and staff.
He said he heard she shows up for her students every day and works closely with the counseling and teaching teams to make sure she is doing everything she can to support them.
Soto also surprised Fuentes in her classroom at Kelly School, and she began to cry when she heard the news.
He said he has heard Fuentes is "doing amazing things with the little ones."
At Morgan, Soto greeted Haugsjaahabink with purple and silver pom‑poms as students cheered around her.
"I knew what a great teacher you were back in your Sullivan days, so this is long deserved," Soto said.
One student said she "really loves Mrs. H" because "she brings a lot of joy," adding that even when she is upset with the class, "she still keeps a very big smile on her face."
Another student said she loves her "because she is a really good teacher" and because she believes "kids should do science the way adults do." A third student said Haugsjaahabink is "very creative" and "thinks outside the box when teaching."
Soto also presented Skwira with the award in her classroom. He said that when he reached out to the principal for nominations, she quickly put Skwira's name forward.
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