PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Paul Gage has been appointed director of the Pittsfield Adult Learning Center.

 

Gage applied for the position as an opportunity to use his nonprofit management and educational experience to help a rapidly expanding and diverse population gain basic literacy skills.

 

A graduate of University of Massachusetts with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting, he worked for several years as a financial analyst for an insurance company. 

 

"It was a great experience but after a few years, I realized that my heart was in public service," Gage said. As a result, he started taking teacher licensure courses at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts while completing a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies.

 

Gage began his educational career as a special education teacher with Hillcrest Education Centers, followed by a permanent substitute teacher position at Hoosac Valley High School, and later, as a social studies teacher at Wahconah Regional High School.

 

Gage also earned a Masters of Public Administration in Non-Profit Management Westfield State University in 2008.

 

His skills were put to the test as executive director of the Louison House, a family life support center for the homeless of northern Berkshire County. 

 

"Working with homeless individuals and families, especially children, to help them achieve even a small degree of normalcy was a humbling and valuable experience during the 4 1/2 years I was at Louison House," Gage said.

 

The center is located at 141 North St. For more info, call 413-499-9530 or click here.