When Issam Heredia-Bitar saw the job posting for an administrative assistant at Ellis Jamaica Plain (JP), it immediately captured his attention. “I was studying business at Southern New Hampshire University, and needed to work part-time to make some money,” he says. “I could work at McDonald’s, but I was moved by the Ellis mission, and I wanted to contribute to make something better.”
After an interview with CEO Lauren Cook, Issam was ready to commit. Seeing Ellis as a place where he could work collaboratively to help children from all walks of life thrive, Issam quickly moved his college classes online. He became adept at balancing the two parts of his life, studying for a college degree and doing whatever Ellis needed to make the organization run smoothly.
When he began at Ellis in June 2023, Issam divided his time evenly between administrative and classroom work. His business classes helped him understand the theory behind the practical work of Ellis’s administration, and his adolescent years prepared him to work with children.
Issam was born in Boston but moved back to Argentina with his parents when he was very young. As a high school student who wanted to earn his own money, Issam began babysitting his two young cousins. He was also the type who would both play at children’s birthday parties and help keep everything under control. When Issam saw a job opening in an English-immersion summer camp, he jumped at the opportunity to work closely with children while speaking only English.
At age 18, Issam returned to the United States to study. “I’ve always been a nerd, and I thought the opportunities were here,” he says. He’ll graduate in two years and is grateful for the way his studies and his early career complement each other.
In November, Issam was promoted to Center Coordinator, responsible for helping the JP leadership team manage all administrative tasks, from ordering supplies to coordinating class schedules. It’s the kind of team effort he thrives on. “I work together with Director Yaskara Cruz and Assistant Director Tasha Jackson to do whatever it takes to keep the JP center running smoothly,” he says.
Issam also steps into classrooms when there’s a need for coverage or when there’s a child who isn’t easily calmed. “I try to step in and help the child and the teacher. It often helps to give a child one-on-one attention, take a little walk, and ease the stress of the other children in the class.”
Issam is in a unique position to reach out to Ellis’s children. He is the only male staff member in the classrooms, and he is by far the youngest. At 20 years old, he’s from a different generation than the other teachers, and often takes a more playful approach. “If there’s a soccer ball around, I'll share something I learned as a child, bouncing it with my foot. The children are fascinated!” Issam often reads stories lying on the floor with the children, offering a playful adult presence that they quickly respond to.
For Claire McNally, the Ellis Vice President of Programs, Issam embodies the teaching and nurturing at the heart of the Ellis mission. “Issam is a rare talent. His kindness and compassion shine through in everything he does, always ready to lend a hand and support those around him.”
Issam bonds with the children in part because he clearly recalls his own childhood. “I remember the kindness of my teachers in preschool, and I really like helping children develop the skills they need and building the memories they’ll have when they’re my age.”
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