LENOX — Superintendent William Collins is pleased to share that Lenox Public Schools recently partnered with Berkshire Educational Resources K12 (BERK12) to host a successful 2023 Berkshire Countywide Professional Development Day.
The Countywide Professional Development Day was held on Tuesday, Nov. 7. The event, organized annually by BERK12, works to address the needs of local school districts with a collaborative approach, pooling resources and building cross-district educator networks.
Lenox Memorial Middle High School hosted the keynote address on “Confronting Hatred and Bias in our Schools and Communities,” presented by Attorney Richard Cole, former Assistant Massachusetts Attorney General and current Advisor to the Anti-Defamation League, to kick off the day.
LMMHS also hosted various workshops throughout the day.
One of the workshops, Building a Safe, Welcoming, and Equitable Community that Promotes Student Leadership, Engagement, and Learning, led by Attorney Cole, provided attendees with the components of a school action plan for effectively preventing and responding to bullying, bias-motivated threats, intimidating, harassment, and violence based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identify, or disability. The workshop also highlighted keys for successfully empowering student leadership, in partnership with school staff, in combating bullying and bias-motivated harassment.
Brian Rabuse, Wahconah Regional High School Music Teacher and Band Director, gave a variety of tips and tricks on teaching guitar in the classroom through a hands-on, interactive workshop, while Maureen Kennedy, Physical Education Teacher at Morris Elementary, worked withP.E. and health educators to explore innovation in the field of physical education.
Other courses hosted at LMMHS included Transforming Stress – an Interactive Workshop for Improving YourWellbeing and Mental Fitness, Engaging Young People in Courageous Conversations on Social Justice, Google Slides… Not Just for Presentations, Topics of Interest for School Psychologists, and Building Motivation in the Language Classroom.
“We were thrilled to be able to partner with the Lenox Public Schools for this year’s Berkshire County Professional Development Day,” stated BERK12’s Coordinator for Professional Development William Ballen. “Returning to Lenox and holding several workshops at LMMHS provided us with a central location in the county, but the level of cooperation from the District, from Superintendent Collins, to Principal Ames, to the entire Lenox support staff, certainly made the day much more successful. I would also like to acknowledge Theatre Manager Ryan Bannen, who handled the arrangements for our keynote address which was broadcast out to several locations throughout the Berkshires.”
More workshops were held at locations throughout county, covering a wide span of topics in math, history, science, English language arts, world languages, data-driven instruction, nursing skills, and many more.
“Lenox Public Schools’ educators benefited greatly from being one of the school districts partnering with BERK12 for this highly successful Countywide Professional Development Day,” said Superintendent Collins. “We were fortunate to host Richard Cole’s keynote address in our Duffin Theatre, and there were plentiful and thoughtfully designed professional development opportunities with engaging presenters, educators from across the county interacting and sharing professional practices, as well as good food; what’s not to like! A shout out to BERK12 for not only setting the bar high but for exceeding expectations.”
A trainer from USTA Western MA leads a hands-on workshop for Berkshire County physical education and health educators, demonstrating how to incorporate tennis instruction into the curriculum. (Photo Courtesy Lenox Public Schools) 
State Representative Smitty Pignatelli introduces the keynote speaker. (Photo Courtesy Lenox Public Schools) 
Attorney Richard Cole, former Assistant Massachusetts Attorney General and current Advisor to the Anti-Defamation League, delivers the keynote address, Confronting Bias and Hatred in Our Schools and in Our Communities. (Photo Courtesy Lenox Public Schools) 
Dr. Liam Printer, host of “the Motivated Classroom” podcast and Leader of Pedagogical Innovation and Approaches to Learning at the International School of Lausanne Switzerland, virtually leads Building Motivation in the Language Classroom. (Photo Courtesy Lenox Public Schools) 
Julie Haagenson, Community Manager with Center for Peace through Culture and a Leadership and Life Coach, presents Transforming Stress — An Interactive Workshop for Improving Your Wellbeing and Mental Fitness. (Photo Courtesy Lenox Public Schools) 
Brian Rabuse, Wahconah Regional High School Music Teacher and Band Director, leads the workshop Teaching Guitar in the Classroom – Tips and Tricks. (Photo Courtesy Lenox Public Schools) 
Heather McNeice, Business Teacher at Taconic High School, presents Good Slides… Not Just for Presentations! (Photo Courtesy Lenox Public Schools)