LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Emily Hollister was nominated by her colleagues, Janet Chandler, Dale Spring and David Adams, as well as a member of the community, Robert Isherwood,

Ms. Hollister is dedicated to providing positive opportunities for her students, and has even created a program called the Fit Squad. In an effort to get girls to work out and gain confidence, Ms. Hollister and a colleague have met with girls in the gym to work out weekly. These girls have formed a dynamic group who work out together, support each other and encourage one another. The emotional growth of the girls is completely evident, and has made a difference in their desire and ability to dedicate themselves to their academic work, as well. Ms. Hollister’s enthusiasm is contagious, and her willingness to put considerable time and energy into activities for the girls, many of whom have little or no support from home, has truly made a difference in the lives of these students.

Ms. Hollister has an extremely strong work ethic and is a team player. She is driven to get her work done and complete the tasks before her with attention to detail. She is a real “doer” and exudes energy and enthusiasm for her work. This dedication is particularly evident in her fundraising skills. In the spring of 2016, her school began to raise money to take their NHS students to New York City. Ms. Hollister spearheaded numerous fund raising activities that eventually allowed them to raise $4,000. For example, she sourced chocolate Easter bunnies to sell, organized a raffle, set up six bake sales, and sourced homemade pies for sale during Thanksgiving.

She never gave up until her group had reached its goal. Ms. Hollister was the point person for an all-school trip to New York City in the Spring of 2017. She and her colleagues took their entire school of 180 people to New York to visit the 9-11 Memorial and other attractions. In her first year on staff, Ms. Hollister worked to support the local women’s club by asking for toy donations for local children in need at Christmas time. This has expanded into an annual toy drive, now spearheaded by NHS.

"She adds tremendous energy, creativity and inspiration to the school culture and invigorates our community," Chandler said. "She accomplishes all this while teaching a full load of courses."

As a Spanish teacher, Ms. Hollister demands a high level of work from her students. Her classes focus on both the Spanish language and the cultures of Spain and Latin America. In order to help her students gain a deeper understanding and wider experience, Ms. Hollister works tirelessly to raise money so her students can practice their skills, from attending cultural events such as a Flamenco dancing performance, to eating at a Spanish restaurant and ordering in Spanish. These activities have enhanced student learning and are important for students who have few opportunities outside of their small community. Ms. Hollister has recently been asked to join the local chapter of the Rotary Club, and is an active member of her community.

"She is easy to work with and encourages others to participate in all aspects of activities," Chandler said. "She relates well to her colleagues and to the students. If you ask her to do something, consider it done. She works efficiently and effectively and always with a smile on her face. Emily has made a difference in our school and changed the lives of students. She has opened doors for students, created educational, cultural and service opportunities that have enhanced the worldview of many students. Our school is a richer community because of her efforts and dedication.”

Ms. Hollister is a successful educator and a positive role model. Her practice is built on her experiences teaching Spanish to highly ethnically diverse classrooms in Spring Hill, FL and to less diverse classrooms in Poultney, VT. Within her first year at Poultney High School, she increased her class sizes by 100%. Ms. Hollister's classroom activities are informative and engaging, and her delivery is bright and inspiring. She has also been an adjunct professor, teaching Spanish at Green Mountain College in Poultney VT, for three years. In addition to teaching Spanish at both the high school and college level, Ms. Hollister also teaches dance for Berkshire Dance Theatre in Bennington, VT. She has been teaching dance to all ages in the disciplines of ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and pointe since she was 18. She does an excellent job at balancing this with her teaching responsibilities and extracurricular activities.

Ms. Hollister became a driving force in guiding students to learn skills for leadership, such as time management, organizational and fundraising skills. She volunteers to lead and assist students in Interact Rotary Club, Fit Squad for Girls, National Honor Society, Red Cross Blood Drives, Annual Holiday Toy Drives, and much more. Ms. Hollister also continues to seek out exciting educational experiences for her students at Poultney High School. She encourages students to apply for scholarships to various summer leadership programs and also for summer study abroad programs. She also practices healthy leadership outside of the classroom as well.

"Emily’s dedication to her school, knows no bounds," Spring said. "She says 'Yes' to any challenge. To her peers and to her students, she is an outstanding individual and we are fortunate and grateful she chose Poultney.”

Ms. Hollister has been instrumental in instilling the values of Rotary’s four-way test, by encouraging the members to recite this test each time they meet. She has nurtured her students to live and exemplify the Rotary motto and live out the four-way test, as well as exploring service opportunities in the community. In this setting, Ms. Hollister has set the bar high for adherence to high moral and ethical standards in the Rotary Club, her high school and the community. Initially, Ms. Hollister enabled communications with the club and its purpose among faculty, staff and administration. She offered the use of her classroom as a meeting space, which made her easily accessible to students. Through her initiatives, she empowered students into outlining the club’s agenda. The club leadership then began conducting each meeting. Through her guidance, the club secretary took notes for each meeting, and the president became more organized and confident in conducting meetings. Ms. Hollister has proven her ability to make a beneficial difference in the lives of her students.

Four years ago, the Interact club started with three students. Today, there are 33 students in a 7-12 grade level high school of 200 students. The club meets weekly during a brief lunch break and once a month during a convenient time. Ms. Hollister was instrumental in making that arrangement with the school administration. In working with the students’ concerns, she helped provide specific guidelines. Each student would have the opportunity to contribute toward some aspect of the club’s work. One group took up planning and organizing the main service project, and another group took up the responsibility of organizing annual funding efforts. A third group took up outlining and planning all the other periodic service activities like food shelf, senior center, raking leaves, cleaning up parks, shoveling hydrants in winter, and much more.

Ms. Hollister affirmed the students’ expressed desire to have club hoodies, worked with them to design it with excellence, procured a friendly vendor and made it financially viable for all club members to afford them. She finds ways to empower students into their creative ideas, from fundraising and service projects to meeting with the local Rotary club for breakfast and building better relationships. Ms. Hollister continually encourages and invites students to sign up for specific service activities so that they can become a valuable asset to the team. She is friendly and hospitable in her dealings with students and peers. She is consistently professional and supportive in her role as an empowering club co-adviser.

“It is a delight for me to have the opportunity to work with Emily Hollister," Adams said. "She proves herself over and over again in her ability to make a beneficial difference in the lives of students, to positively add to the development of the school’s atmosphere, to provide leadership within her school with her record of excellent performance at the professional level, in her commitment to producing a nurturing atmosphere and in her adherence to high moral and ethical standards of service above self."