Call For Nominations for the Teacher of the Month Series

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
11:47AM / Saturday, April 27, 2024Print Story | Email Story

The Teacher of the Month series has been renewed for another 12 months, and we need nominations. The 12-month series is in partnership with Berkshire Community College.

Throughout the first season, we met some of the outstanding teachers in Berkshire County who have influenced and inspired the next generation, and we know there are more. Submit a nomination for a teacher who deserves the spotlight here.

"Teachers are an integral part of a community and often go underappreciated despite their impact," iBerkshires Publisher Osmin Alvarez said. "A good teacher not only teaches the curriculum to the students but does so in a way that inspires them to become part of a community and change it for the better."

Last year's honorees were teachers from various grades and schools, including Gabriel Abbott Memorial School, Mount Greylock Regional School, Berkshire Family YMCA and Mount Everett Regional School.

These educators influenced their program or school's culture by participating in or spearheading extracurricular activities or fundraising opportunities for local organizations.

This year, we hope to see even more nominations for teachers, professors, paraprofessionals, and all the educators who have had a clear and lasting impact on their students, colleagues, and the community.

Thank you to everyone who sent in a nomination last year. Nominate a teacher here.

Last year's honorees were:

May: Williamstown Elementary School kindergarten teacher Jenna Dickinson.

June: Morningside Community School fourth-grade teacher Breanna Sumy

July: Berkshire Family YMCA preschool teacher Marissia Bibbo-LaFog

August: 18 Degrees prekindergarten teacher Celia Armstrong

September: Mount Greylock Regional School physics teacher Shawn Burdick

October: Morris Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Ashley Scherben

November: Mount Everett Regional School science teacher Asha Von Ruden

December: Stearns Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Krista Harrington

January: Hoosac Valley Elementary School kindergarten teacher Sarah Leidhold

February: Clarksburg School prekindergarten teacher Mary Quinto

March: Gabriel Abbott Memorial School third-grade teacher Kimberly Wall

April: Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public School history teacher Alla Chelukhova

Tags: teacher of the month,

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Northern Berkshire United Way: War and Peace

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
09:38PM / Saturday, February 28, 2026

Northern Berkshire United Way is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. Each month, we will take a look back at the agency's milestones over the decades. This first part looks at its successes and challenges during the war years.

The Community Chest started the decade on the upswing but ended with a decline in fundraising. A bright spot was its establishment of new agencies to help the citizens of North Adams and Clarksburg.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Community Chest ended its first decade on an upswing, even as the clouds were darkening over Europe.

But what goes up, must eventually come down.

The 1940 campaign drive again set a goal of $39,600 and volunteers toted up $23,000 at the first meeting.

James Hunter Machine was the first to attain 100 percent enrollment with annual gift of $6.13 per person for a total of $1,275. Some 200 businesses and organizations hit their red feather level of 100 percent, including all of the schools as well as State Teachers College.

The litany of businesses and organizations included long-gone establishments such as Simmons Funeral Home, Spofford Motors, McCann Ice Cream Co., C.H. Cutting, West End Market, Apothecary Hall, Florini's Italian Garden, and Pizzi's, along with still existing enterprises like Whitney's Beverage Shop, Cascade Paper and Mount Williams Greenhouse.

The now annual dinner was served by the Ladies Aid Society of First Congregational at the YMCA, and attendees were entertained by singers from the Advent Christian Church, directed by the Rev. Martin Ball and accompanied by his wife on the piano. "Assisting in useful capacities" were YMCA junior members Howard Goodermote, Roy Modlinger, Fred Myers, Norman Remillard, George Grenier, Wallace Konopka and Anthony Pessolano.

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