The Holyoke Public Schools community thanks Irene Feliciano for nearly a decade of service as the Ward 4 Holyoke School Committee member. She was first elected to the School Committee in 2014 through a special election, when her predecessor stepped down in the middle of their term. The City Council and School Committee voted her in that first year and then the constituents of Ward 4 continued to vote her back into office.
Ward 4 covers parts of the Churchill and downtown neighborhoods, as well as smaller sections of the Oakdale and Highland neighborhoods. Lawrence Elementary is in Ward 4.
When Ms. Feliciano first joined the School Committee, she felt the district's schools were not an option for all students, and that some communities—hers in particular—were overlooked. As a 1999 graduate of Holyoke High School and former “teen mom trying to do better for my children,” she decided to send her children to a charter school rather than to public schools.
During her tenure on the Holyoke School Committee, Ms. Feliciano experienced changes in governance, including four superintendents and a shift from local to state control under receivership. When she reflects back on her time as a School Committee member, she is most proud of “helping families and making those connections.” She recognized that navigating the school system can feel unfamiliar and bureaucratic. She likes supporting families who are navigating the individual education plan (IEP) process as well as families who may need an interpreter.
“I love working with the SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council). For example, we planned a community-building event at the carousel, where more than 200 families attended, and which has now become an annual event.” She sees herself as an advocate first. “My approach has been: How am I going to do better for my kids and have the system work for me, my child, and those after me?”
Ms. Feliciano offered three helpful suggestions for community members who may choose to serve on the School Committee in the future:
“Be an advocate first. Hear where the need comes from and what you can do with it.”
“Don’t get caught up in politics. Focus on the kids.”
“Ensure that your families and students always have voices.”
School Committee Vice Chair Mildred Lefebvre called Ms. Feliciano “a great advocate who has helped families navigate the system so their children receive the supports they need to be successful. She has brought her wealth of knowledge to the School Committee and our families, especially regarding students with disabilities transitioning from high school to adult services. Ms. Feliciano will be greatly missed on the board, and we wish her all the best in the new path she is taking.”
As she steps away from her position on the School Committee, Ms. Feliciano remains hopeful for the future of HPS. “I am eager for the School Committee to have more control and influence on policies and procedures,” she said. She is also excited to see what the new middle school will look like and the impact it will have for the community. Finally, she hopes HPS will see more Holyoke residents serving as teachers and staff in district schools.
“I love Holyoke, and I loved being a representative of Ward 4. I will greatly miss it,” she added. She expects to spend more time with her family in the upcoming year while remaining connected with HPS through her work as the bilingual director at Viability, an organization that helps people with disabilities gain employment through community and business partnerships. She also supports adult students in the district’s Transitions Academy as they are leaving school and preparing for employment.
Ms. Feliciano is the mother of two adult children—one who is studying to be a teacher and another who is serving in the military—and two toddlers whom she hopes will attend HPS schools when they are older. She is eager to spend more time with her little ones. “Being a foster mom hasn’t been easy, and I want to take time to enjoy them,” she said.
Ms. Feliciano and her family will be traveling to Japan in February to see her son, whom she hasn’t seen in three years.
“We wish her the best of luck,” said Superintendent Anthon Soto, “and we look forward to seeing how she continues to serve the Holyoke community in her own way in the future.”