In just 10 years at Northampton High School, teacher Jeromie Whalen created a visual media program that poached statewide awards from schools with much larger budgets. That’s why, when I found out he was challenging U.S. Rep. Richard Neal — the highest recipient percentage-wise of PAC funds in Congress — I knew Jeromie would give the incumbent a run for his money.

I met Jeromie in my sophomore year at NHS when I took Intro to Photography. Each day, we took photos with cameras Jeromie received through his relationship with the local nonprofit Northampton Open Media. Then, we edited the photos on computers he lobbied Smith College to donate. I was inspired by Jeromie’s hustle and ability to think outside the box to make sure his students had the resources we needed to thrive.

Jeromie sensed that my interest in photography was growing and stoked it. He suggested I compile a collection of my favorite photos for him to submit to a statewide competition, covering the costs himself. Just a few months later, Jeromie drove a group of students to the award ceremony in Boston. On the way, he reminisced about his first few years at NHS, when the wealthiest neighboring schools would dominate. A couple of hours later, it was us taking home the awards. After years of Jeromie’s hard work, other schools now looked up to Northampton High.

It wasn’t just Jeromie’s students who were winning awards, however. During my junior year at NHS, Jeromie asked a group of students to be crew members on a project he was directing. We got to film the amazing Young@Heart’s 40th anniversary show. Though doubtful that the documentary could compete for an award against media giants like NBC Boston and WCVB, Jeromie still submitted the film. What he lacked in resources and prestige, he made up for in grit. The documentary came out on top, winning a New England production Emmy.

Jeromie‘s impact spans far beyond western Massachusetts. Since 2019, through the organization Global Glimpse, Jeromie has taken high school students to developing countries. In five trips to Central and Latin America, he has led efforts to build wells, create vegetable gardens, and restore native ecosystems through planting trees.

After graduating from NHS, I thought it would be a while before I saw Jeromie again. That’s why I was surprised when his face appeared in a Boston Globe video essay titled, “My Friend Mahmoud Khalil is no terrorist sympathizer.” Through teary statements, Jeromie decried the Trump administration’s recent decision to deport the Palestinian graduate student. In 2018, Jeromie had worked alongside Khalil in Syria, teaching children displaced by war. When I saw Jeromie standing up for his friend Khalil, I knew he would do the same for me, for any NHS student, and for his future constituents.

I want to close with a story that illustrates my youthful foolishness and some of Jeromie’s best qualities. After my junior year, Jeromie let me borrow one of his cameras. I was snorkeling on vacation when I got the “bright idea” to take photos of the sea life. I put the camera in a waterproof case and was having the time of my life when suddenly the screen went black.

Panicked and ashamed, I texted Jeromie from a thousand miles away. Rather than scolding me for my recklessness, or asking why I thought it was a good idea to bring his expensive camera to Puerto Rico — never mind taking photos with it underwater — he sent a simple message back: “No worries, we’ll figure it out. Thanks for being honest.” He was right. As soon as I got home, we met at the school. After a quick replacement of a small part, the camera worked like new.

Jeromie Whalen is hardworking, kind, honest, resourceful, and principled. He has reached thousands of people as an NHS teacher and even more through his humanitarian work abroad. In a time when greed and dishonesty dominate national and local politics, Jeromie represents needed change. I hope the First Congressional District gives Jeromie the chance he has given to hundreds of students like me.

Noah Daube-Valois is a sophomore at Vassar College and grew up in Northampton.