Miss Hall's School Appoints Two Administrators

Print Story | Email Story

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."
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

MassDOT, CSX Agree on Improvements to Support Berkshire Flyer, Passenger Rail

Staff Reports iBerkshires
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The state Department of Transportation and CSX have reached an agreement for local infrastructure improvements that will be a "major step" to making the Berkshire Flyer a permanent seasonal service. 
 
Gov. Maura Healey's administration said the improvements will also help toward the years-long project of expanding passenger rail in Western Massachusetts. 
 
"People in Western Massachusetts have been clear that they want better rail connections, and we're delivering," Healey said in a statement released on Thursday. "This agreement puts the Berkshire Flyer on a path toward permanent seasonal service and invests in the infrastructure we need to keep expanding West-East passenger rail service between Boston and Albany. Combined with new federal funding for modern trains, we're giving people more choices, supporting local businesses and better connecting Western Massachusetts to opportunities across the Northeast."
 
Mayor Peter Marchetti said the Berkshire Flyer is an important asset to the city and that he was grateful for the investment to make it permanent.
 
The Berkshire Flyer was established in 2022, connecting the Berkshires directly to New York City for the first time in a half-century. The Amtrak service was based on the seasonal Cape Cod Flyer with the goal to increase tourism opportunities. The 2026 season expanded service with an additional round-trip, including new opportunities for Berkshire County residents to travel to New York City.
 
The administration also announced that new federal funding awarded to Amtrak for additional modern trainsets will support Compass Rail services, including the Berkshire Flyer and the future Inland Route between Boston, Springfield and New Haven.
 
Under the new agreement with CSX, MassDOT will fund construction of a siding and other track improvements in the Pittsfield area to increase rail capacity and reduce conflicts between passenger and freight operations. MassDOT will also explore the feasibility of a new platform at the Joseph Scelsi Intermodal Transportation Center.
 
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories