PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Doing any job when one is stressed and frustrated is much more difficult.
And teachers are the same way. They are the scapegoats when schools are underperforming. They're pressured by parents and administrators. Their work days are long, some students can be taxing, and recently in Pittsfield, the threat of job loss has hung over their heads.
The Center for Peace through Culture recognizes the tensions that build up in someone's life and launched a program with the staff at Conte Community School to teach the teachers calming and relaxation techniques. The pilot program is wrapping up and 10 teachers voluntarily participated in it.
"They are the ones I need to invest in right now. They are the ones with the direct contact with all of our students," Principal Kerry Light told the School Committee on Wednesday.
Susan Lord, from the Center for Peace through Culture, said the 10 teachers spent four days during the summer with staff launching the LifeSchool program. The program was specifically designed for teachers and the school environment, integrating techniques that can be seamlessly be integrated into the classroom. Every other week, outside of work, the teachers spent two hours learning the program.
"We are working with teachers who will teach hundreds of teachers about this way of living in the world where we can all live up to our full potential," Lord said.
For Light, the program has helped her become less reactive to issues and more resilient to stress.
"I have noticed more positive energy, more patience, and more resilience," Light said.
Lord said students often aren't taught the tools to "calm down" and when a student is upset, it makes it more difficult to learn. The goal is to start with the teachers who are working with the students every day and giving them the skills to do the same. That will later trickle down into teaching the students those skills.
"These skills calm down the nervous system and prepares students to learn academically," Lord said. "This is the primary education that these children need, in fact, that all of us need."
School Committee member Cynthia Taylor said there is neuroscience to support the use of such techniques.
"It helps kids' brains function so much easier than when they are not afraid and fearful," Taylor said.
The techniques help both teachers and students become more self-aware and less stressed, allowing for better communication and creativity. Lord said the $50,000 the center spent to launch such a program was worth the money.
Now that the program was developed and piloted, Lord says it will be less expensive to roll it out on a larger scale next year. She is currently fundraising in hopes of being able to expand the program into all elementary schools.
"We're plowing ahead as if the money is going to come. We are very committed and we would like to offer this program to other Pittsfield elementary schools," Lord said.
School Committee Chairwoman Katherine Yon said she appreciated the center's efforts because "we are looking for new, innovative things to do in the future." She hopes the program can be expanded.
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Pittsfield Celebrates Robert 'Bob' Presutti on Arbor Day
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
Bob Presutti, right, is presented the Hebert Award in 2017 for his volunteer efforts at Springside Park. He died in 2023 at age 88.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A tree has been planted next to the Berkshire Athenaeum in honor of local "giant" Robert Presutti.
Officials celebrated Arbor Day on Friday by installing a commemorative plaque next to the American elm sapling. This is a tree that James McGrath, the city's park program manager, said Presutti would have been particularly proud of.
"Today is a day where we yes, celebrate trees, but today is also a day where here in the city we intentionally try to acknowledge the good work of folks in our community who spend their time and their efforts and their talents to make Pittsfield a more beautiful place," he said to a crowd of about 20 people.
"Today we are honoring a longtime community volunteer named Bob Presutti. I'm sure a lot of you here know Bob and know his contributions to the city, not only when it comes to trees and parks but also to the Retired Senior Volunteer Program."
The longtime volunteer passed away last year at the age of 88. He contributed more than 10,600 hours to RSVP and had great impacts on the Parks Department over the years from sharing his knowledge and talents to ensuring that workers were safe when working on trees.
"This morning I went through my emails to see how many emails Bob Presutti sent me since the year 2001 when I started with the city. Bob Presutti sent me 14,000 emails and nearly every single one of those was about trees," McGrath said, prompting laughter and smiles from attendees.
One thread struck him as particularly important because it showed Presutti's empathy when it comes to the safety of city workers while caring for trees.
"There were multiple emails from Bob about the need to get the Parks Department maintenance guys into a program learning about chainsaw safety and learning about ladder safety. He was really into making certain that our city workers were well cared for and had all of the instruction that they needed and in fact, he even offered his own time and services after he became certified to teach our city workers," McGrath said.
Officials celebrated Arbor Day on Friday by installing a commemorative plaque next to the American elm sapling. This is a tree that James McGrath, the city's park program manager, said Presutti would have been particularly proud of.
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Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.
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Between disagreements about site design and a formal funding process not yet established, more time is needed before a decision can be made.
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The Ordinances and Rules subcommittee on Monday unanimously supported a pay raise for election workers, free downtown parking for veterans, and safeguards to better protect wetlands.
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