“I believe all things you approach with love, respect, and passion will reward you with great success.”
Yamaris was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and raised in the small village of Juana Diaz. She moved to Holyoke, Massachusetts, in 1993, where she immediately enrolled at Holyoke Community College and earned a credential certificate for the early childhood program, which led her to continue her education.
Yamaris has a master’s degree in education from Cambridge College and undergraduate degrees from UMass Amherst and Springfield Technical Community College.
Yamaris is passionate about early childhood and literacy, having been named a 2016 Mass Literacy Champion—a statewide recognition for her early literacy work in Holyoke. She was also the team captain of an education reform organization called Stand for Children, which empowers parents to become advocates in their children’s education.
Before working for the Holyoke Public Schools, Yamaris worked as a teacher director at Holyoke Chicopee Springfield Head Start and as a paraprofessional who supported students in special education at the Holyoke Community Charter School.
Over the years, she has developed a passion for working with parents and caregivers to make the most of their own potential while helping them to overcome obstacles and barriers, all in the best interest of their children.
While working at the Holyoke Public Schools as a Family Engagement Coordinator, Yamaris became a community leader herself. She has established a friendly and professional relationship with many families and has provided a variety of tools and resources to parents who seek to improve outcomes for their children. She has also influenced individuals to become leaders in their school communities.
In 2018, she was chosen as the “Godmother” of the Puerto Rican festival and was recognized for her trajectory working with the Holyoke community.
A member of a Christian church, Yamaris is a woman of faith and is married, with two adult children and two grandchildren.
Yamaris is an inspiration to many families in the community and believes she has found her place in the community by contributing to people’s way of life.
(413) 390-9930
