Berkshire Hills Regional School District (BHRSD)
Our July 25th School Committee meeting was electric as we met our new administrative team. I urge you to watch part of the meeting on CTSB and to introduce yourself to our new leaders.
We introduced three new principals and one assistant principal.
Cynthia Carey is Muddy Brook Regional Elementary School’s new Principal.
Cynthia previously worked as Muddy Brook’s assistant principal and as an assessment coordinator, math coach and teacher in the Pittsfield Schools. Ms. Carey completed a master’s in education at MCLA and bachelors from Rollins College.
“We’re excited for Cynthia to join us in this new role. She has context to listen to and support students, families, and staff in developing and growing as learners and people.”
Ms. Carey shared, “I’m thrilled to have been offered the position. I look forward to continuing the good work we’ve been doing at Muddy Brook. I also hope to take this opportunity to work with the staff and the community to improve in areas where we could be doing better. Muddy Brook is a wonderful school with a fabulous staff and a diverse, vibrant community; I couldn’t be happier to have the privilege to be their principal.”
Betsy D’Agostino is Muddy Brook Regional Elementary School’s new Assistant Principal.
Betsy worked in the North Adams school district as a fourth grade teacher at Greylock Elementary School teaching ELA and Social Studies for the past seven years creating safe, rigorous, and supportive environments for her students. Betsy served on the Social and Emotional Leadership team, the Instructional Leadership team, and PBIS team, as well as, serving as a PLC team facilitator for the school. She also served on the district’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice team where she was responsible for leading and training all three elementary schools for the district.
Previously she worked at Pittsfield’s Herberg Middle School as Behavior Specialist, Case Manager, and Special Education Teacher Grades 6-8.
She earned a bachelor’s degree at then North Adams State College, a master’s degree from American International College, and is a Graduate of the Leadership Academy at MCLA.
Betsy is excited to share her student-centered approach to teaching and her commitment in building strong and lasting relationships with her students. Betsy exhibits a genuine passion for fostering an inclusive and equitable learning environment. She has an unwavering ability to go above and beyond to ensure that every student in her care receives the attention and guidance needed for their academic and personal growth. Lastly, she shared her ability to foster strong relationships with teachers, families, administrators, and community organizations in the service of supporting all students.
Jake McCandless is Du Bois Regional Middle School’s new Principal.
Jake previously worked as a superintendent at Mount Greylock, Pittsfield, and Lee school districts. He was the principal of Lee Middle and High School and an assistant principal and teacher in Virginia.
Jake earned a bachelor’s degree at Grove City College, a master’s degree from the University of Virginia, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Boston College.
Jake is committed to continue to serve students, families, and the educators and community who make school happen for the students in the Berkshire Hills Regional School District. “I am very honored to serve the communities that comprise the BHRSD and to work in a school where great things happen every day for young people in the middle grades.”
Superintendent Dillon shared, “Every so often the stars align. We are so happy with Jake joining our team. His deep commitment to supporting every student and valuing all members of the school community will serve us well. His commitment to excellence and rigor will help us engage all learners.”
Christopher Barnes is Monument Mountain Regional High School’s new Principal.
He’s served as Principal at Turners Falls High School and Great Falls Regional School, Associate Principal at Mount Anthony Union High School, Principal of Arlington Middle/High School, and Acting principal and Assistant principal of Mount Greylock Regional High School. He was also a staff developer, assistant principal and teacher in Baltimore.
He has a B.A. in English Literature from Western Washington University, a master’s in curriculum and Instruction from McDaniel College and Administration and Supervision Certification from Loyola University, Maryland.
“I feel very fortunate to be coming on board at this time. The school has a great history and strong traditions, and it is my intention to begin building relationships with students, staff, and community members right away. I have an open door policy, and I welcome conversations with all of our constituents. I will be working with Superintendent Dillon and the school leadership, which includes the administration and many teachers, to further understand where we are and how we want to move forward. I am very passionate about this work. I love working with students, as they bring immeasurable life and energy to our work; I am excited to meet them, to hear their concerns and ideas, and to build upon the school they love. I plan on reaching out to the community members as soon as I begin, and I welcome them into the school, so that we may begin to get to know each other and to start our work together.”
Dillon says of Barnes, “He impressed us as thoughtful, collaborative, and innovative. He cares deeply about including all voices. We look forward to his impact on our learning community.”
We’re excited to welcome this new team and to be planning together for the new school year.
In future Stockbridge Updates, I will introduce you to some of our new teachers and staff, share what’s happening with the high school project, and share updates on our budget process for next year.
