When Justin Smart walks down the hall between classes at HHS North, he greets every student he sees, offering high fives, hellos, and words of encouragement. This might be expected for someone in Mr. Smart’s role as in-school support coordinator and Restorative Learning Center coordinator—but this high-energy, students-first approach actually started in 2014, when Mr. Smart joined HPS as a custodian.
Mr. Smart, who moved to Holyoke from Springfield in 2005, worked across multiple HPS campuses in his time as a custodian. His personable nature and patient listening made him a favorite with students, and led to him piloting a program at E.N. White School to engage students who were having difficulty focusing in class.
“Kids could come out of class if they were having a little trouble, and hang out with me while we would pick up litter, and we would get to talking,” said Mr. Smart. “ I tried to build a rapport with students to get them to see that ‘Hey, what you’re doing is not okay, but you can make a better decision.’”
As a custodian, Mr. Smart continued to be involved in programs focused on student well-being and behavior. In 2022, he was approached by HHS North principal Lori McKenna with a new idea: Would he like to be an in-school support coordinator?
“I looked at her like, ‘Are you sure? Me?’” said Mr. Smart. With Ms. McKenna’s assurances, he accepted the role—and found his calling.
Restorative justice is a practice of nonviolent communication focused on healing from harm, accountability, and rebuilding relationships. At HHS North, the program is focused on teaching cohorts of students communication practices that they can use to mediate conflicts at school, at home, and in the community. By teaching one group of students who in turn teach other students, the practice becomes peer-to-peer rather than top down, Mr. Smart explained.
“It’s exciting. It’s a fulfilling job for me,” he said. “I like to give people the opportunity to say what they want to say, and say what they feel, without feeling judged or feeling like they’re not being heard. I feel like my people skills have helped me thrive.”
Principal McKenna agrees. “He is able to support a student who is having a bad day as a result of his empathetic nature, his ability to encourage students and set small, achievable goals, and his authenticity as he builds relationships. He is the ultimate team player, and I am so glad he made the move to take on a new position on our campus.”
Mr. Smart credits the relationships he built during his time as a custodian for helping him succeed in this new role. These roots go deep: Some of the students Mr. Smart built rapport with when they were elementary students at Kelly or E.N. White are now set to graduate from HHS North in the spring.
“I had a great time as a custodian, a good time meeting people and building rapport, but restorative justice work is my fulfillment,” Mr. Smart said. “It’s where I’ve made the most impact. I give back to the community, and help them find their own voice.”
He’s happy to provide motivation and support to the students he works with today—especially in a role that he wishes had existed during his own school days.
“My teachers back in the day didn’t really advocate for me or understand what I was going through at the time. I was troubled. I had no one like me at school. Doing this now, I see how it gives back and how the kids are responding to it. It’s a great thing and a good feeling. I want to continue to do the work and provide the structure of restorative justice for Holyoke.”