Northampton Exchange Club honored Jessica Pretopapa as the Northampton Area High School Employee of the Month for April during a dinner meeting May 10 at Northampton Banquet & Event Center. A 10th-grade English teacher at NAHS, she serves as the National Honor Society adviser.

The Exchange Club initiated the new Northampton Area School District program in September 2016, coinciding with the Service to Youth program, which cites a senior girl and boy for monthly recognition.

NASD Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik and high school Principal Robert Steckel attended the program, as did Pretopapa’s daughter Adrianna, who was celebrating her 11th birthday.

Pretopapa is married with two daughters, 8 and 11.

She has been teaching at NAHS for three years and has 15 years’ experience in education.

With a Master of Science in education in classroom technology, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in education from Shippensburg University. She taught at Belvidere High School in New Jersey for four years and has been an adjunct professor at Northampton Community College for the past eight years in the education department.

Pretopapa has worked as a digital copy editor for Runner’s World magazine and has written published articles for MD News.

She assists as an assistant softball coach for both her daughters’ teams.

One of Pretopapa’s colleagues said, “She goes out of her way to help students. She runs the National Honor Society and is doing great things with this group. She is an excellent peer resource, always willing to offer assistance or suggestions.”

Another stated, “Mrs. Pretopapa is an excellent classroom teacher who provides a great experience to all of her students. She is able to connect students of all abilities, and her students truly enjoy being in her class. Also, many students look to her for help and guidance, and she is able to help them. She is a great teacher.”