VOTE DONNA MCKELLICK FOR
SPRINGFIELD RETIREMENT BOARD
The Springfield Retirement Board is holding elections this year and retired Paraeducator, Donna McKellick, is running for the position!
Donna feels that it is important that members of the Springfield Retirement Board are representative of the body they serve. The school department is the
largest population governed by the retirement board and it’s time
for someone from the school department to serve on the board.
Check your mailbox for your ballot and vote for Donna!
Your ballot needs to be received in the Springfield Retirement office by noon on June 26, 2026.
Local 4098 Member of the Month
June 2026
Darlene Allard
Darlene Allard
Local 4098 Member of the Month
June 2026
Darlene Allard has been a Paraeducator in the Springfield Public Schools since September 8, 1998. She currently works at Indian Orchard Elementary School. Dee was nominated by Kelly O’Malley, Building Representative at IOE.
“Dee, is an exceptional paraeducator! Her knowledge of our district and pure love for her job is unmatched. Dee consistently goes above and beyond to support both students and staff. She is always willing to help her students succeed by showing patience, encouragement, and dedication every day. No matter the situation, Dee steps up without hesitation. Whenever help is needed she can always be counted on to lend a hand. Her positive attitude, teamwork, and commitment to creating a supportive environment makes her truly deserving of this recognition.” - Kelly O'Malley, Paraprofessional
“Dee Allard is an exceptional paraprofessional. She is kind to all of the students and makes them feel genuinely welcome and loved. She works effectively with our students. She is kind, attentive, and consistently supportive of our student's needs. She maintains a calm and positive presence in the classroom and builds respectful relationships with students and staff. Dee always adds colorful art and crafts to our room. She is an asset to our room and demonstrates reliability, teamwork and a willingness to assist wherever needed.” – Tracy Lafleche
“Dee Allard is a very dedicated paraprofessional in a K–2 SEBS class. Her patience anchors the room, her intuition helps students feel understood, and her commitment turns tough moments into meaningful learning. Watching her work with the students is a reminder that real growth for young children often begins with a caring adult who shows up with compassion every day.” - Lori A. VanZandt, Assistant Principal
We are so fortunate to have Dee as part of our team at IOE. She excels in all that she does, while being a true advocate for the students in her classroom, she genuinely cares for her students and the IOE community. She is a dedicated, reliable, and valued educator. Dee is also a true team player—always willing to help, collaborate, and step in wherever and whenever needed. Her creativity shines through, especially in the way you bring crafts to life and make learning more engaging and fun for our students. And of course, her love for discovering all the fun gadgets at the school store, Amazon and the Dollar Store always brings a smile to her students and colleagues! Thank you for everything you do each day to support our students and strengthen our school community, we appreciate you!!” - Maria Serrazina, Principal
:Ms. Allard is a vital team member to our SEBS classroom each and every day. The commitment to her work and the compassion she has for our students is admirable. Many of our students light up when they see her each morning and see her as a safe space where they can navigate complex emotions without judgement. We couldn't do it without her!” - Sharlene Rogers, M.Ed., LMHC, District Behavior Specialist
Congratulations Dee and thank you for Making A Differ
Current Events
The Paraprofessional Transfer Process begins on April 6, 2026.
To check out the current postings click here.
Write to your members of Congress asking them to pass the Paraprofessionals and Education Support Staff Bill of Rights (H. Res. 990 and S. Res. 450) and then share this link with your colleagues so they can do the same.
Wondering about your member benefits? Check these out!
Springfield Federation of Paraprofessionals
Local 4098
American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
Nominate a Local 4098 Member to be the Member of the Month
Do you know a member of our unit who goes above and beyond? Would you like to nominate that person for recognition within our local?
We would like to acknowledge a single member of our unit on a monthly basis for their contributions to our members and our local.
Use this link to nominate a member and tell us a little about why you think we should recognize them as the "Local 4098 Member of the Month ".
You can watch the School Committee Meetings live on Comcast-Channel 9 in Springfield or on YouTube on the Focus Springfield Channel Focus Springfield Community TV - YouTube
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