Our School Committee members devote countless hours behind the scenes helping shape the future of Berkshire Hills Regional School District. As classrooms across campus get into the swing of a new school year, we’d like to introduce you to this group of dedicated individuals who volunteer their time in service of our students, staff, and community. Read on to learn more about what motivates our School Committee members to serve and what each of them is looking forward to in the year ahead. 

NOTE: Profiles of the remaining five members to come next Wednesday!

Stephen Bannon’s connection to the local community runs deep. He was born at Fairview Hospital, graduated from MMRHS in 1976, and was appointed to the school committee in 1997; two years later, he became chair, a position he has held ever since. “There are never enough people who want to serve on the school committee," says Bannon, who was inspired to help students—including his own—get the best education possible by providing big-picture guidance for the District. Over nearly three decades of public service, Bannon, who joined the Great Barrington Selectboard in 2010, has also been passionate about finding common ground between the District and the Town. While they are distinct municipal entities, he says, their shared investment in the community makes collaboration essential. 

Looking ahead, Bannon is excited about the new high school and what it will mean for students. He is equally encouraged by the progress he sees in classrooms across the District. “The evolution of proficiency-based learning and de-leveling are two areas that are really starting to bloom and demonstrate how successful they can be,” he says, pointing to positive developments across the District—including two consecutive years of strong AP scores—as evidence of the work taking root. 

After 14 years on the Berkshire Hills Regional School District School Committee, Richard Dohoney remains inspired by the power of public education to shape lives and communities. A 1992 graduate of Monument Mountain Regional High School, Dohoney has experienced that impact both as a parent and School Committee member. “I believe the public education system is the most important and impactful force in American life, and it is inspiring to be a small part of that,” he says. Dohoney calls the District’s success “awe inspiring,” pointing to its breadth of opportunities, from a premier college preparatory program to state-of-the-art vocational training.

For Dohoney, the District’s impact extends well beyond the classroom. He has seen how its work can help students overcome challenging economic circumstances, find pathways to healthy and fulfilling lives, and lift up families—ultimately transforming the broader community. Looking ahead, he is particularly excited about the implementation of a new elementary reading curriculum and preparations for construction of the new high school, which he sees as further investments in the future of BHRSD students.

Motivated by a desire to contribute to her community with the goal of continually improving its schools, Sarah Bourla has served on the BHRSD School Committee since November 2022. This year, she is particularly excited about a new initiative bringing teachers from the upper elementary grades through high school together in subject-based vertical teams for ELA and math. Bourla sees the teams as an opportunity to foster an even stronger, more connected District-wide community while creating greater coherence in curriculum and assessment across all three schools. “Go teams!” says Bourla who is eager to hear what teachers, students, families, and administrators have to say as the initiative takes shape. “I feel lucky to live in a place where so many individuals give generously of their time and expertise,” says Bourla. Her goal is to help ensure an excellent education for all of the District’s children, including two Spartans of her own.

Diane Singer has served on the School Committee since 2016, the year her youngest daughter started high school. A decade later, she remains excited about the District’s future—especially the new high school and the programs it will make possible. “I am thankful to the voters of the three towns for saying ‘yes’, as it lets our students know how important education is to this community,” Singer says. Over the years, she has been struck by the dedication and kindness of the teachers and administrators who, in caring so deeply about their work, create an environment where students can learn and grow. She has been equally impressed by the students themselves, noting their willingness to speak up at School Committee meetings when they believe something needs to change. For Singer, that engagement reflects just how much the schools mean to the community at large. Once the new high school is built, she sees the next challenge as an opportunity: finding as many ways as possible to welcome folks into the building. 

Heather Campbell, the Committee’s self-described newbie, brings deep experience helping teams tackle complex challenges to the proverbial table. She was jointly appointed in late August by the Stockbridge Select Board and the Town’s other two School Committee representatives. As she settles into her new role, Campbell is eager to hear from teachers, administrators, parents and students about what’s important to them. Listening, Campbell says, will help her understand what matters most to the school community and where the Committee can make the greatest difference. Her goal is to focus on what sets the schools up to succeed, recognizing that when kids and communities thrive, everyone benefits. Looking ahead, her approach is direct: “I hope to megaphone the things that are working, and be a part of creating solutions to things that aren’t.”