SPRINGFIELD — Nicole Blais, CEO of Holyoke, Chicopee, Springfield (HCS) Head Start, has been named the 2026 Leader of the Year by the Massachusetts Head Start Assoc. (MHSA). This recognition honors her decades of leadership, commitment, and impact on children, families, and the broader Head Start community.

In sharing the announcement, the Massachusetts Head Start Assoc. recognized Blais for her more than 30 years of service to HCS Head Start. Her career reflects both deep dedication and a powerful full-circle journey, having once been a Head Start child herself. Today, she leads the very organization that helped shape her early years, embodying the mission and long-term impact of Head Start programs.

“Nicole exemplifies what Head Start stands for,” the MHSA stated in its announcement. “Her leadership has had a transformative impact on her program, her staff, and the families she serves. Congratulations to Nicole on this well-deserved recognition.”

Blais began her professional journey with HCS Head Start in 1996 as a parent education and support specialist. In this role, she focused on strengthening family engagement and ensuring program standards were upheld. Over the years, she expanded her impact by developing family-focused initiatives, leading teams, and representing Head Start programs across Massachusetts and at national conferences.

In 2012, she stepped into the role of director of Community Engagement, where she spent a decade building partnerships with community organizations, media, and public leaders. Her work strengthened connections between Head Start and the communities it serves, helping to expand awareness and access to critical early childhood services.

In 2021, Blais was named CEO following the retirement of longtime leader Janis Santos. Since then, she has continued to guide the organization with a focus on innovation, collaboration, and a strong commitment to children and families across Holyoke, Chicopee, and Springfield.

Her leadership extends beyond her organization as well. She currently serves on the New England Head Start Assoc. board of directors, supporting Head Start programs located throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Prior to this appointment, Blais also served multiple terms on the MHSA board of directors, advocating for policies and practices that strengthen Head Start programs statewide.

Blais is proud to additionally serve the community as a Springfield Regional Chamber ambassador and Holyoke Rotary Club member. She attended the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and conducted her graduate studies in nonprofit management & philanthropy at Bay Path University.

SPRINGFIELD — Holyoke Chicopee Springfield (HCS) Head Start recently welcomed two new members, Monalisa Smith and Maritza Sostre, to its parent-led policy council.

Across the country, Head Start organizations engage parents and community representatives to make up local policy councils, providing input and guidance on program decisions. Council members play a critical role in shaping policies, ensuring accountability, and representing the voices of the families and communities served by HCS Head Start. Their active participation helps ensure the program remains responsive, effective, and aligned with the needs of the children and families it serves.

Other 2025-26 HCS Head Start policy council members include Jasarah Burgos (chairperson), Kathy Gasque (vice-chairperson), Gladys Rivera (shared governance liaison), Amber Cichowski, Cinnamon Smith, Esther Alicea, Fanny Perez, and Raven Core.

SPRINGFIELD — Last year, Holyoke Chicopee Springfield (HCS) Head Start announced the formation of the Janis Santos Scholarship. This recognition was created by Janis Santos, former CEO of HCS Head Start, to help address the shortage of early-childhood teachers.

Santos, an avid supporter of early education for children and families, served as the lead of HCS Head Start for 48 years. She established the scholarship to support current HCS staff, parents, and Head Start alumni who are pursuing a degree in early education and care but may be encountering financial hardship.

Last year, the first Janis Santos Scholarship was awarded to Mayra Felix, who applied with the dream of using it toward completing her bachelor’s degree. The second annual scholarship was recently awarded to Notavious Andino-Galarza-Perez, who attended HCS Head Start 15 years ago and is currently studying at Columbia University.

“Head Start undoubtedly nurtured my creativity when I needed it most,” Andino-Galarza-Perez said. “Early in life, I, like many of us, realized that life would be difficult. It wouldn’t always be fair, and it certainly wouldn’t be easy. However, Head Start set out to challenge that. Day in and day out, the Head Start staff served their community, tirelessly nurturing the next generation (nurturing me), watering the seeds of the future.”

Santos, along with Nicole Blais, HCS Head Start’s current CEO, presented Andino-Galarza-Perez with this honor at the organization’s annual Professional Development Day. The recipient, joined by his mother, expressed his immense appreciation.

“I vividly remember playing teacher,” he said. “Oh, how I wanted to be in charge of the room! I would have given anything for that. Fast-forward 15 years, and although my interests have shifted slightly, the call toward the education field continues to pull at me. I often find myself imagining myself leading a classroom, just like I did all those years ago. This is what ultimately led me to minor in education.”

Andino-Galarza-Perez also shared that becoming a teacher would mean he would finally be able to repay the debt of gratitude owed to those who inspired him all those years ago, and hopefully inspire the next generation to always strive to be better than the last.

Through the generous donations of many sponsors, including Pioneer Valley Financial Group, the Janis Santos Scholarship will continue to annually support a deserving individual pursuing a career in early education.