Dillon gets positive evaluation in Berkshire Hills

GREAT BARRINGTON – Peter W. Dillon, superintendent of Berkshire Hills Regional School District, seems to be doing something right.

The two-page report prepared by the superintendent’s advisory committee is full of praise for Dr. Dillon’s work.

“The district continues to move in a positive direction under the leadership of Superintendent Peter Dillon,” the report reads. “His ability to clearly articulate a vision and model how to act upon that vision to the other administrators is having a positive impact at all levels.”

The report goes on to highlight the superintendent’s work in professional development, encouraging staff to find grant funding and his budget process.

“It’s a job well done,” said School Committee Chairman Stephen C. Bannon.

School presentations

Before unanimously approving Dr. Dillon’s evaluation, the BHRSD School Committee saw presentations from each of the district’s three schools on their progress so far in the 2012-2013 school year.

In light of some low MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) scores, one key area at Muddy Brook Regional Elementary School has been curriculum.

“Curriculum has been the main focus for our school,” said Muddy Brook Principal Thad Dingman, adding teachers and staff have been working to identify objectives and assessments. “We’ve been working really hard.”

When specifically asked about math progress by School Committee Member Deborah “Debbie” Kain, Principal Dingman said, “The picture looks amazingly better. We’re shrinking in the right areas and growing in the right areas. But there’s still work to be done.”

Like most schools, Muddy Brook has also been working to align its curriculum between classrooms and grade levels.

“It makes us better as teachers and as a school,” the principal said. “All kids need to learn, and all kids need to move forward.”

At Monument Valley Regional Middle School, Principal Benjamin “Ben” Doren said one of the focus areas was in solving problems more immediately or before they even become issues.

“We’re getting much better at figuring out what our kids need right away,” he said.

Monument Mountain Regional High School Principal Marianne R. Young indicated a possible change in the number of credits required for students to graduate.

“We need to take a closer look at the graduation requirements,” she said, adding she was looking at possible increases in science, math and elective credit requirements to make students’ high school experiences “as rigorous and comprehensive” as possible.

Principal Young also indicated an interest in starting a PTA (parent-teacher association) at the high school, following in the steps of Muddy Brook and Monument Valley.

“I’m hoping we can learn from our other two schools,” she said.

Posted by Catherine M. Krummey on February 14, 2013. Filed under Education News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry