image description — Richard LaRocque served as the school's volleyball coach in the team's inaugural season this past year.

Adams Charter School Names Athletic Director

Community submission05:52PM / Monday, June 26, 2023Print Story | Email Story

ADAMS, Mass. – The Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public School Monday announced the selection of Richard LaRocque as the school’s athletic director.

LaRocque, finishing his seventh year at the school, is a high school science teacher who has taught chemistry, anatomy & physiology, and environmental science. He is an MCLA alumnus, graduating there in 2016 with a bachelor of science degree and a major in environmental studies and biology.

LaRocque has been an athlete most of his life, playing baseball, basketball, and tennis. He is also widely involved in wilderness and outdoor activities—as an avid hiker, skier and ski instructor, and outdoor adventurer. While a student at MCLA, he was a member of the college’s tennis team and captain of the team for the 2015-16 season.

“Rich is a terrific science teacher,” the school's executive director, Jay White, said. “And he shines as an enthusiastic member of the [the school's] community. He has brought his love of athletics to [the school] as well—from organizing after-school pickup basketball, to serving as assistant coach of the boys’ basketball team, to this year serving as head coach of [the school's] new interscholastic volleyball team. Rich will be a terrific director of athletics for [the school], caring for and advancing [the school's] sports in important ways.”

The charter school's interscholastic sports currently include cross country, soccer, basketball, ultimate frisbee, and volleyball. A member of the River Valley Athletic League, Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter is joined in RVAL by the Academy at Charlemont, Buxton School (Williamstown), Dublin (N.H.) School, Eagle Hill School (Hardwick), Four Rivers Charter Public School (Greenfield), Hartsbrook School (Hadley), High Mowing School (Wilton, N.H.), Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School (South Hadley), Putney School (Putney, Vt.), St. Michael's School (Brattleboro, Vt.), Stoneleigh-Burnham School (Greenfield), and White Oak School (Westfield).

"Athletics is an essential part of [the school],” Assistant Principal Marcus Hass said. “Rich has a vision for [the school's] athletics, and I am confident that he will take us to the next level.”

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Adams Man in Wednesday's Stabbing Incident Arraigned on Assault Charges

Staff Reports 01:00PM / Friday, January 30, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — An Adams man who called 911 on Tuesday night saying he had been stabbed was arraigned Friday on charges related to that incident and on outstanding warrants.

Philip White, 25, is accused of stabbing himself and calling 911 posing as a "friend." According to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, an officer responding to the scene at 31 Commercial St. fired his weapon when the White was "observed approaching the officer in a threatening manner with an object in his hand." He missed, and no one was further injured.

White was initially held at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield for a mental health evaluation and was reported in stable condition from his wounds, which were described as not life-threatening.

He was charged in Northern Berkshire District Court with assault with a dangerous weapon, to wit: cutting instrument, in connection with the Jan. 27 incident. He is being held without right to bail probation violation from charges of assault and battery, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct from an incident on Sept. 12, 2025.

White has three outstanding warrants which include three counts of trespass and one count of assault and battery on a family/household member. The court has additionally ordered an evaluation on his competence to stand trial and at the defense request, criminal responsibility.

A dangerousness hearing request is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 4.

District Attorney Timothy Shugrue said he will announce the findings of the full investigation into this incident, including the officer's discharge of his firearm, upon the conclusion of the investigation. The DA's Office said there would not be any additional comments at this time.

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