MCLA Physics Professor Elected as SENCER Leadership Fellow

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Adrienne Wootters
NORTH ADAMS – Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) physics professor Adrienne Wootters recently was elected as a SENCER (Science Education for New Civic Engagements and Responsibilities) Leadership Fellow by the National Center for Science and Civic Engagement (NCECE). SENCER is the National Science Foundation-supported signature program of the National Center for Science and Civic Engagement, and an initiative that engages students in science and math by focusing coursework on real world problems.

Wootters is one of 76 educators elected to the inaugural class of fellows by the members of the Center’s national fellowship board. Fellows were selected from a group of nominees drawn from the more than 1,300 faculty members and academic leaders who are part of the SENCER community.“The appointment of Professor Wootters as a SENCER Leadership Fellow is a tribute to her outstanding leadership and contributions to STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics] education not only at MCLA, but also at a national level,” said Monica Joslin, MCLA dean of academic affairs. “As the lead partner for the Berkshire STEM Pipeline Initiative, MCLA has done much to attract more students into the STEM field and support teacher education. We are pleased to see Professor Wootters recognized for her work.”

The National Fellowship Board is composed of educators with expertise in innovative education programs concerning the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) disciplines. Current members include: David Ferguson, chair of the board, distinguished service professor at Stony Brook University; Robert Full, chancellor’s professor of integrative biology at the University of California-Berkeley; Jay Labov, senior advisor for education and communication at the National Research Council; Cathy Middlecamp, distinguished faculty associate (chemistry) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; and Barbara Tewksbury, the William R. Kenan professor of geosciences at Hamilton College.

For more information, go to www.mcla.edu.
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McCann Recognizes Superintendent Award Recipient

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

Landon LeClair and Superintendent James Brosnan with Landon's parents Eric and Susan LeClair, who is a teacher at McCann. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Superintendent's Award has been presented to Landon LeClair, a senior in McCann Technical School's advanced manufacturing course. 
 
The presentation was made last Thursday by Superintendent Jame Brosnan after Principal Justin Kratz read from teachers' letters extolling LeClair's school work, leadership and dedication. 
 
"He's become somewhat legendary at the Fall State Leadership Conference for trying to be a leader at his dinner table, getting an entire plate of cookies for him and all his friends," read Kratz to chuckles from the School Committee. "Landon was always a dedicated student and a quiet leader who cared about mastering the content."
 
LeClair was also recognized for his participation on the school's golf team and for mentoring younger teammates. 
 
"Landon jumped in tutoring the student so thoroughly that the freshman was able to demonstrate proficiency on an assessment despite the missed class time for golf matches," read Kratz.
 
The principal noted that the school also received feedback from LeClair's co-op employer, who rated him with all fours.
 
"This week, we sent Landon to our other machine shop to help load and run parts in the CNC mill," his employer wrote to the school. LeClair was so competent the supervisor advised the central shop might not get him back. 
 
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