DALTON, Mass. — The Central Berkshire Regional School District will soon have new leadership, but the community-centered mindset on which the district was founded will remain the same. 

 

In April, the School Committee hired the district's assistant superintendent, Michael Henault, for the superintendent position, and Wahconah Regional High School Principal Aaron Robb will take over his mantle as the assistant superintendent. 

 

Henault and Robb start July 1 and are excited about this next journey in their career. 

 

The district fashioned a community out of its staff, students, families, and the residents who support the schools, the duo said. 

 

"I think people are seeking a sense of community where their kids are going to be safe, both physically and psychologically," Robb said. 

 

The regional school district encompasses Becket Washington Elementary School, Craneville Elementary School, Kittredge Elementary School, Nessacus Regional Middle School, and Wahconah Regional High School, serving the seven towns of Becket, Cummington, Dalton, Hinsdale, Peru, Washington and Windsor.

 

When combining so many towns under one umbrella, it can be difficult to create a sense of community because of the cultural shift, he said. 

 

"I picture Central Berkshire as a premier school district where everyone's going to want to send their students to our schools, not only to learn, but to thrive as people, and to have a fulfilling education that educates the whole child. That's what I envision Central Berkshire to be," Robb said. 

 

The schools are the "hub" of their communities. Residents are very active in school programming, such as sports, concerts, and musicals, Henault said. 

 

"I think that's the crux of it. We are the centers of our community, and people are proud of Central Berkshire, of the district," he said. 

 

When you talk to people in the community, they're proud of Wahconah. They're proud of Nessacus, and our three elementary schools [and the schools] all serve as a connection between the work that we're doing and the community as a whole, and that's really important."

 

Students come from all over the Berkshires and beyond to attend schools in the Central Berkshire Regional School District. The district's staff, families, and reputation set Central Berkshire apart from others, Henault said. 

 

"We have a very dedicated, supportive, and skilled staff. That goes from our custodial staff to our administrators, and across the board," he said. 

 

"We don't just draw school-choice students, we also draw and retain highly skilled and qualified teachers. So, people know that, and I think that's part of the draw." 

 

The district's second-largest demographic, after Dalton, are students who attend the schools through school choice, Henault said. 

 

"We're a district that people send their students to. We're a draw," he said. "We want to build off of that …We want to be the best district, and we're working our way towards being the best district in Berkshire County. And that's our goal. That's a lofty goal, but that's what we're working towards." 

 

Henault and Robb will face several challenges during their tenure, many of which they have already begun to address. However, they also know that they are not tackling these issues alone.

 

"When I hear from families, especially those that bring their students from other communities, they come here not just for the education but for the sense of belonging," Robb said. 

 

Henault agreed, adding, "And that's what we're going to build from. The challenges that we face, the answer to many of those is building on our strengths of being a place where people belong."

 

Henault and Robb have collaborated with families, students, and administrators to address challenges such as the pandemic, chronic absenteeism, financial constraints, the need for mental health and social-emotional support, and ensuring all students have access to the same opportunities. 

 

One challenge that Robb foresaw is navigating how to address artificial intelligence in a school setting and exploring its impact on education. 

 

During their careers, both Henault and Robb have done most of the jobs that it takes to run a school district. 

 

Henault highlighted how he was a social studies and English teacher, an athletic director, assistant principal, principal, dean of students, and served on the Hoosac Valley Regional School District. 

 

Robb has been with CBRSD for 28 of his 30-year career in education. He was a learning assistant at Lenox High School for two years and went on to be a social studies teacher, principal, and assistant principal. Additionally, after school, he held extra jobs including as a school custodian and assembling school furniture. 

 

Upon Henault's hiring to replace the retiring Leslie Blake-Davis, a search committee was established to find his replacement for the assistant position. 

 

The committee was made up of parents, staff, and was "very representative of the Central Berkshire community," he said. 

 

Of the 11 applicants for the post, Robb overwhelmingly won the votes of the committee because of his commitment to the students, dedication to learning, and advocacy for what is best for Central Berkshire Regional School District students, Henault said. 

 

"He also came across as a person who was invested in learning and was curious about learning himself, and taking a big step at this point in his career, and excited about learning some new things about education, including elementary education," he said. 

 

"And he just came across as really passionate about learning, which I think is important in education, especially as you get into administration. So, he was the obvious choice after we did our interviews."