Hulse-ified

Late last summer, preparations were ongoing for an event coordinated and run by our prevention specialist, Denise Hulse.  Talking before the event, one of our colleagues smiled and said, “You’re about to be Hulse-ified. We all laughed and knew exactly what it meant. Denise Hulse is an incredible person and a Prevention Specialist who looks to make a positive impact on all she meets. So, what does "Hulse-ified" mean, you may ask?

Hulse-ified means there will be humor and joy. Denise has an infectious laugh combined with focused eyes, searching to make a positive impact on others.

Denise Hulse, a Port Jervis graduate of 1988, has been working with ADAC for the past several years, starting as a volunteer. (See below from the PJ School Board Meeting presentation, 10/14/25)

Introducing Denise Hule

Port Jervis School District's Prevention Specialist

I was born and raised in Port Jervis, and I am a proud 1988 graduate of Port Jervis High School and Orange-Ulster BOCES. Deeply rooted in my hometown, I spent 21 years working alongside my father at Ambassador Glass & Window Co., a trusted local business established in 1981. Driven by a passion for community and youth development, I dedicated a decade to volunteering as a costume designer for the ASK, middle school, and high school drama clubs. My commitment extended to leadership roles on the PTA boards at both the middle and high school levels. My contributions have been recognized with several honors, including the Port Pride Award (2015), Citizen of the Month (2020) presented by County Executive Steve Neuhaus, and the Orange County Junior League Rising Star Award (2024). I began my journey at ADAC (Alcohol & Drug Awareness Council of Orange County) as a volunteer photographer and Red Ribbon Week bow maker, quickly discovering my calling in prevention work. From those early volunteer days, I grew into a full-time role as the IMPACT Prevention Specialist for the Port Jervis City School District. My heart has always been with the youth of my community. Whether through volunteerism, advocacy, or education, my mission is to plant the seeds of prevention and support within the next generation. I feel truly blessed to once again walk the halls of Port Jervis schools — this time, as a trusted adult and mentor — helping guide students toward healthier, brighter futures. I would like to thank the board for giving me time to speak and introduce myself this evening. Thank you for all you do!

 Look at some of these numbers of the engagement, connections, and impact that she has made over the past couple of years while working at PORT:

Port Jervis School District and Community Number from March 2024 until August 2025

• Teen Intervene Referrals: 54
• ATOD/MD Presentations: 60
  • Number of Participants: 3,691
• Information Awareness Events: 139
  • Number of Participants: 10,988
• Evidence Based programs: 492
  • Number of Participants: 6,683

You can watch part of the PJ School Board Meeting where Denise and her colleague present here.

Talking to kids about substance abuse is so important.  Teaching kids and modeling positive habits are major steps in helping children form their own healthy habits and choices. Denise reinforces much of the message that our students hear from teachers, staff, families, and other positive influences in their lives. We are grateful to have Denise on our team, thankful for the gifts and talents she brings, and proud that we see Hulse-ification in action!

Denise, keep up the great work! You are a bright star in our school community and are making a difference.

In Denise's world, as well as other mental health professionals, including counselors, emergency responders, law-enforcement agents, and others, there isn't always an obvious, immediate, and positive result from their efforts.  Sure, sometimes if someone’s making poor decisions and stops due to another adult's influence, that is certainly a positive outcome. Many times, Denise and other professionals don’t see the results of their work. The keyword is prevention, and this can be hard to quantify.   

Maybe it's just a kid at a party who says no. Perhaps it is a young person who speaks to another young person and says, “Hey, let’s get out of here!” or “This stuff is not good for us, so let’s get away from it.” Things like that happen all the time that we don’t see, and we must stay the course and continue to set up healthy experiences, engagements, and be positive role models for our children.

Thank you to Denise and her team at ADAC, and all of our staff here in Port Jervis. Thank you for influencing and positively impacting our students with your gifts and talents in your own unique ways. 

#Hulse-ified

Want to write a #PortPride blog spot? We want this blog to be written by a variety of people connected to Port Jervis: students, staff, alumni, BOE members, community leaders, and more.  Have a recommendation for a person, program, place, or happening that should be written about?  Reach out to Mr. Marotta at amarotta@pjschools.org or via phone 845-858-3100 x5534