ABOUT US

Chris Gibaldi has 5 years of experience in early childhood working specifically with high need families through the Valley Opportunity Council.

He was previously a preschool teacher at VOC Morgan School in Holyoke, MA - the first QRIS level 4 Preschool Expansion Grant (PEG) classroom in the state.

His experience as a multi-sport athlete, 12 years coaching, his love and passion for early development are paving a new road for teaching.

Throughout that time, he has witnessed the impact high quality early education can have on a struggling school district.

Hope Ross Gibaldi is fluent in Spanish and English, allowing us to create bilingual content that can reaches the large Spanish speaking community in Holyoke.

Upon completing the teachNOLA program, Hope taught 1st grade at a Spanish immersion school in New Orleans.

As the coordinator of a pilot infant playgroup for Raising A Reader MA in Holyoke, she also worked to close the achievement gap.

She is a graduate and former facilitator of the Holyoke-based entrepreneurship program (SPARK) providing resources to grow the business both here and beyond Western MA.

Hope currently serves on the advisory board for Entrepreneurship for All in Holyoke, MA and is the Community Engagement Manager at Valley Venture Mentors.