Jessica Rohan, known as JRoh to anyone who meets her, will be the faculty speaker at this year’s senior dinner, and the graduating class couldn’t be happier.
Despite teaching only in the middle school, her roles as a devoted dorm parent in Memorial Hall East, basketball coach, and general ray of sunshine on campus have established Rohan as a pivotal part of the Williston community. Anyone who meets her is instantly struck by her energy, outgoing nature, and caring personality, all of which make her a natural teacher and educator.
Rohan grew up with four siblings in a blended family in South Hadley, Mass., which she says taught her to “work hard … be positive … and take people under [her] wing.”
A lifelong basketball player, Rohan began her athletic career early, playing varsity at South Hadley High School as an eighth grader and ultimately scoring 2,000 points. She went on to receive a full scholarship to St. Michael’s College in Winooski Park, Vt., where she scored more than 1,000 points and earned a B.S. in Psychology.
Rohan explored several career paths after college, including a position as a recruiter in finance and technology in New York City. She described the experience as formative, saying it taught her to “put [her] head down and just go … persevere, life is hard.”
After relocating to Boston, Rohan began to reassess her career path. “I woke up every day with a kindergartner stomach ache,” she said, ultimately deciding she “didn’t want to feel that way anymore.”
Shortly after meeting her husband, Andrew, Rohan returned to school at Elms College, where she earned her M.Ed. in Education and transitioned into teaching special education. She worked in the Chicopee Public School System for five years while also coaching varsity basketball at Chicopee Comprehensive High School.
Rohan later joined Wilbraham & Monson Academy, balancing both teaching and coaching roles before being offered a full-time teaching position there. She moved to campus in 2012 and quickly discovered her passion for education.
“I fell in love with kids and teaching, and I think I was genuinely made for something like this,” Rohan said. She emphasized the importance of recognizing “natural gifts,” adding, “I learned really quickly that I have a sparkle for kids [and] adolescence in young women and young adults.”
After a decade at WMA, Rohan was encouraged by former colleague Wendy Staples to apply for a position at Williston. She accepted a role teaching both middle and upper school English and immediately felt at home.
“I loved the town,” she said. “I loved the idea of having an open mind and not … being expected to adhere to societal norms … but [instead] to embrace those that are different and embrace those that challenge norms.”
Students quickly responded to Rohan’s energy in the classroom. Rowan Lonergan, a junior from Amherst, Mass., recalled her enthusiasm during his eighth-grade English class.
“It was different than anything I [had] experienced from a teacher in a classroom before,” he said. “[She] was very fun and brought you into class.”
Rohan said her teaching philosophy centers on shared ownership of the classroom. “When kids come into my class, it’s ours, it’s not just mine,” she said. “I think kids need somebody that’s in their corner … [someone who] is fun and passionate but [also] serious and playful.”
That impact extends beyond the classroom. Ruthie Butler, a senior from Naperville, Ill., met Rohan while living in Memorial East her sophomore year, and said she quickly became a defining presence in her Williston experience.
“She brings out everyone’s inner child and creates [bonds] that [are] very personal,” Butler said. “Anytime I talk to her, I just feel like I’m my best self.”
Even after moving out of the dorm, Butler said their connection remains strong. “She’ll never ever forget anyone she meets,” she said.
Skyler Walker, a senior from Barrington, R.I., echoed those sentiments, noting Rohan’s warmth both in the dorm and on the basketball court.
“She is so kind and loving to the kids in the dorm and she always has so much happy energy when you see her,” Skyler said.
Rohan said her experience at Williston has been deeply meaningful.
“I think this is a place that has truly appreciated everything that I’ve ever been,” she said. She was honored during Convocation in fall 2024 with The Northampton School for Girls Instructorship.
“Being able to be the senior speaker .. I feel like I’ve made it,” she said.
Students say she is a fitting choice for the role.
“She’s such a genuine and real person and teacher,” Rowan said. “I think she is a great choice for senior dinner.”
Ruthie added that Rohan’s connection to the class makes the moment especially meaningful.
“Having someone who has been here since the beginning … I think that’s perfect for our senior dinner speaker,” she said.
Rohan agreed, reflecting on her bond with the Class of 2026. “This class in particular … took me under their wing,” she said. “I’m so excited to be able to share [senior dinner] with them.”
