Famous Slam Poet Mayda del Valle to perform at Williams College

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Mayda del Valle, Goodrich Hall at Williams College, Nov. 5. 7 p.m.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - The Williams College Vista organization will kick off its month-long celebration of Latino Heritage Month with a surprise visit by spoken word poet and actress Mayda del Valle '00.  She will perform in Goodrich Hall at 7 p.m., tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 5. The event is free and open to the public.

del Valle has been described by the Chicago Sun Times as having "a way with words. Sometimes they seem to flutter and roll off her lips. Other times they burst forth like a comet streaking across a nighttime sky."

A nationally known poet and performer, del Valle is the daughter of Puerto Rican parents and grew up in Chicago.

In May, she was honored to perform at the White House for President Barack Obama and the First Lady.


del Valle has appeared on many high profile stages, including six episodes of Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam on HBO and touring with Norman Lear's Declare Yourself Spoken Word Tour.

She was a contributing writer and original cast member of the Tony Award winning Def Poetry Jam on Broadway and has appeared in Urban Latino, Latina Magazine, Mass Appeal, The Source, and The New York Times.

del Valle was named by Smithsonian Magazine as one of America's Young Innovators in the Arts and Sciences, and was featured in the September issue of Oprah's O Magazine as one of 20 women considered remarkable visionaries.
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Teacher of the Month: Greta Noyes

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Williamstown Elementary School first-grade teacher Greta Noyes feeds her students' natural curiosity and makes them excited to learn. 
 
It is her dedication to her students, caring heart, and welcoming atmosphere that has earned her the iBerkshires Teacher of the Month designation. 
 
"I just love what I do, and I know every day is going to be a good day … It is never a dull moment, and it's always exciting, and it's good to see the curiosity and the eagerness of our students and how they bring so much joy to the classroom," she said.
 
The Teacher of the Month series, in collaboration with Berkshire Community College, features distinguished teachers nominated by community members. You can nominate a teacher here
 
For more than two decades, Noyes has dedicated her career to nurturing young minds, from teaching kindergarten in North Carolina for 11 years through moving to Massachusetts. She has been working at Williamstown Elementary for the last 11 years. 
 
"I have a background in language and literacy. I love the moment that students realize that they are successful with a skill, in particular with reading," she said. 
 
Noyse infuses her background with other curriculum, including math, science, and social studies, to reach her pupils. 
 
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