NORTH ADAMS — The advice students at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts had for the state's new secretary of education was simple: Come back.
Paul Reville, recently appointed to lead the state's educational system into the 21st century, visited both MCLA and Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield on Wednesday to speak with faculty, staff and students about their experiences and ways the local colleges are collaborating within Berkshire County.
But what most impressed history major Kevin Pink was the fact that Reville, the first education secretary since the post was abolished in 1996, had made his way to this far corner of the state.
"I would like to ask you to stay with us," said Pink, adding that he wanted Reville and the governor to continue to visit the college.
"I say that from the very bottom of my slightly bitter Berkshire soul," he said, expressing disdain with the previous governor (Gov. Mitt Romney) who overlooked the Berkshires.
Reville, who lives in Worcester, acknowledged the importance of including people from Western Mass. "We are a very important part of the state, here."
He's the latest in a series of top state officials who have come to the Berkshires during Gov. Deval Patrick's term. Four months ago, the chairman of the new state Department of Higher Education, Frederick W. Clark Jr., visited BCC.
In fact, it seems the eastern end of the state is looking west for ways to bring Patrick's goal of "seamless" comprehensive education from preschool to college and preparing a work force for technology and information age — also the goals of the Berkshire Compact for Higher Education.
MCLA President Mary K. Grant introduces Education Secretary Paul Reville to Berkshire Compact members at Murdock Hall on Wednesday.
The compact is a wide-ranging collaborative effort of local colleges, employers, public schools, work-force training groups, social and community groups and civic leaders working to instill the importance education in the area's youngsters and provide greater access to academic opportunities.
"I've heard about the Berkshire Compact for a long time," said Reville to faculty and compact members before meeting with the students. "I wanted to get together and have a chance to listen to you, interact with you and be advised by you as we move forward."
The state is looking to implement recommendations from the Readiness Project, a yearlong initiative involving educators and others for planning an educational strategy over the next 10 years.
Reville was impressed with the ability of the various groups of the compact to interact and questioned how they could work together so quickly. MCLA President Mary Grant joked that it was hard to get away from each other because the area was so small. "We run into each other in the supermarket."
"The compact has brought together dozens of people with a united purpose," said North Adams Public Schools Superintendent James Montepare. That purpose is to work together for the betterment of the area's children.
The educators spoke about the importance of aligning curriculum to ensure that students entering college are prepared to take the higher-level courses. Montepare said those building blocks might need to be started early on, at the lowest elementary grades.
The goal of the compact is to not only prepare students for college, but to encourage them to see it as a normal phase in their academic careers.
That's meant events like Berkshire County Goes to College, which brings middle schoolers to campuses, bringing high school students to work in college labs, sharing resources and promoting Ground Hog Day, which lets students experience different careers, among other activities.
And, with a new science center probable at MCLA, the idea of a "science resource center" within it for the use of local schools has been raised.
"We really need to inculcate those aspirations in our children," said Reville. "So that it's routine that they don't think about if they are going to college, but where they are going to college."
After meeting with educators, Reville met with the small group of MCLA students along with Grant.
The group was made up of student leaders from Residential Programs and Services, the Student Government Association, the Leadership in Education, Action and Development (LEAD) Academy and athletics.
"We have some real leadership around this table," said Grant.
Spencer Moser, coordinator of service programs and activities, attended both meetings. He spoke to the secretary about the LEAD Academy and described it as a way for incoming students to transition into undergraduate life.
Established four years ago, the program focuses on team building and community service. Student leaders also help to plan and run the academy.
"They are slowly taking over the reins of the program," said Moser.
Q&A with Students
Reville had many questions about MCLA and wanted to hear from the students.
"What are the things that stand out [about the college]," he asked.
"It's so easy to step into leadership positions here," said Kaitlyn Bonneville, assistant director of the LEAD Academy. She also said the school provides first-year students with opportunities to get involved right away.
Monique Symes spoke about her experience as a leader. The English/communications major formed a step dance club for the college in her first semester. Symes, who also teaches for a community dance program, credits her connections with people at the college for helping her to succeed.
Keifer Gammell, secretary of the SGA, described what he believed stood out about MCLA — the college's small class size that allows the faculty and staff get to know students on a first-name basis.
"They'll go to our sports games or they'll go to our shows," said Gammell.
Reville asked to hear more about faculty and staff support at the school.
Pink, assistant building manager for RPS, spoke about the school's First Days program during which he climbed Mount Greylock.
"Here you are on top of this huge mountain in Massachusetts [and] there's the president of the college handing out a T-shirt and saying 'Hi,'" said Pink.
Jokingly, Reville asked if Grant took a helicopter to the top.
The secretary of education was also interested in how students first heard about MCLA.
Basketball player Martin Thompson, whom Grant teased about wanting to be the future president of the college, said he found out about the school from a cousin who went to MCLA.
"I don't even know where you're at, man," he said he told his cousin. That led the Springfield native to visit the school last summer.
"It wasn't like I fell in love, but I fell in deep like," said Thompson of the college.
Bonneville discovered her fondness for the school during a junior visit day (during which high school juniors get a first look at the college). The Chicopee native, who wanted to get involved with English and theater, said the school had great programs for both.
"I fell in love, not in like," Bonneville added.
Along with general questions about class size, Reville posed more specific questions. He brought up issues of diversity on campus and asked Symes and Thompson about their experiences as "student[s] of color."
"I didn't really look at it as I want to be somewhere with people of color, I just wanted to be somewhere I felt comfortable," said Symes.
Despite friends and family warning him to be careful, "coming here wasn't a big deal," according to Thompson, who came from a mostly white private school.
After spending time with students and educators, and touring the campus, Reville said he had something to take back east.
"I'll go back to Boston with a very sharp and clear image, much different than the fuzzier image I had of [MCLA] before," he said.
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The goal of the compact is to not only prepare students for college, but to encourage them to see it as a normal phase in their academic careers.
Established four years ago, the program focuses on team building and community service. Student leaders also help to plan and run the academy.
