Miss Hall's School Appoints Two Administrators

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Christine Higuera

Thomas M.S. Wheelock

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Miss Hall's School appointed two senior administrators to start the 2013-2014 academic year.
 
Pittsfield resident Christie Higuera, who has held many roles at MHS since joining the school in 2002, has been named dean of students, while Williamstown resident Thomas M.S. Wheelock has been named interim dean of academics and faculty.
 
In her new position, Higuera oversees all aspects of the student life program, including leadership development, residential life, advising and advocacy, and the continued advancement of the MHS Student Life Curriculum. Higuera previously served three years as assistant dean of students, from 2008 until 2010 as dean of student programs, from 2002 to 2008 as assistant to the academic program and assistant head of school. She has also held positions in the athletics department, including assistant director of athletics, varsity soccer coach and varsity basketball coach.
 
Higuera holds a Bachelor of Science in communications from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
 
Wheelock joins Miss Hall's from the Oregon Episcopal School, in Portland, Ore., where he served as academic dean and English teacher from 2008 to 2012. Wheelock began his career in 1981, teaching English and history at the Haverford School in Haverford, Pa., before serving as director of college counseling. He has also held administrative and teaching posts at the Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School in St. Louis, Miss.; The Altamont School, in Birmingham, Ala., where he was head of school; and St. Martin's Episcopal School in Metairie, La. 
 
Wheelock holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Pennsylvania and an Master of Arts in English from Carnegie Mellon University (Pa.).
 
In their new positions, Higuera and Wheelock also join the Miss Hall's School Senior Council, the senior management team that meets regularly to exchange information, set policy, advise the head of school and anticipate future needs.
 
"I am pleased to welcome these two seasoned administrators," said MHS Interim Head of School Mary H. Grant. "With her institutional knowledge and relationships with the students, Christie has certainly hit the ground running. Tom brings a wealth of administrative and classroom experience that will serve us well. I look forward to a strong year with both of these team members."
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BRPC Receives Grant for Alternative Mental Health Response Initiative

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The FY27 state budget includes $250,000 to establish a task force for an alternative mental health response in the hilltowns, such as Hinsdale, and beyond. 

State Sen. Paul Mark delivered this news to the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission last week. 

"I'm sure people are aware of what happened with the shooting under a mental health distress call in Hinsdale, and obviously there's been a lot of concern about what happened and how we should proceed," he said at the BRPC's July 16 meeting, as a guest speaker. 

"And so I'm glad to kind of announce tonight unofficially that Berkshire Regional Planning has actually volunteered to be the recipient of $250,000 to establish a task force that is going to work alongside the Brien Center and the Sheriff's Office to try to figure out how we come up with some kind of an alternative mental health response in the hilltowns like Hinsdale." 

In January, 27-year-old Biagio Kauvil was fatally shot by police while suffering a mental health crisis. 

District Attorney Timothy Shugrue cleared Hinsdale Officer Jeffrey Spratt of criminal charges; however, while non-criminal, Shugrue said the investigation revealed concerns surrounding the Hinsdale Police Department and urged a formal review of its internal policies and applications to the Jan. 7 call. 

Last month, Hinsdale residents aired policing concerns during an information session at Town Hall. Some attendees emphasized that people do not feel safe calling 911 if they are experiencing a mental health crisis. 

A consultant is in the beginning stages of an administrative review of the department, which the town authorized $25,000 to fund. 

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