Callahan Named Finalist for North Adams Superintendent

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Superintendent Search Committee has put forward one candidate to lead the public schools: Assistant Superintendent Timothy Callahan.
 
The School Committee on Monday morning said Callahan, former principal of Drury High School, will be interviewed publicly at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 20, in the City Council Chambers. The session will be broadcast on Northern Berkshire Community Television. 
 
Should the committee approve, he will succeed Barbara Malkas, who is retiring this June after nine years as superintendent. 
 
Callahan has worked in the North Adams Public Schools for 27 years, holding multiple positions. This has included teaching English at Drury, director of curriculum and instruction and assistant principal, and more recently director of technology for the district and, since 2022, assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and assessment. 
 
According to a statement from the School Committee, Callahan was selected as the leading choice after an extensive national search and careful consideration of numerous qualified candidates. The district received applications and the search committee conducted five Zoom interviews. 
 
He received his bachelor of arts in English literature from Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., a master of education from Cambridge College, and a doctorate of education in educational leadership from Russell Sage College in Troy, N.Y. His core values include equity, creativity, and collaboration, and he believes in setting high expectations for students while providing them with high levels of support.
 
During the public session next week, Callahan will be interviewed by the committee members as part of the final
evaluation process. The meeting will also be accessible via Zoom video conference and the link will be posted as part of the public meeting announcement.
 
While the committee will not hold a "hearing of visitors" during this meeting, students, faculty, staff, families, and community members are encouraged to submit their questions ahead of time via a Google form here. Questions must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 17, to be included for consideration.

Tags: search committee,   superintendent,   

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North Adams Man Found Guilty of Rape, Sentenced to State Prison

Staff Reports

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — On Monday, Nov. 9, Joseph Pini, 49 years old, formerly of North Adams, was sentenced to 9 to 12 years in State Prison after being found guilty of 2 counts of Rape and one count of Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor. 

On Friday, Nov. 6, a jury found Pini guilty of all three charges after deliberating for four hours. 

Honorable Judge Callan sentenced Pini to 9 to 12 years in State Prison for the two counts of Rape and 6 months in the House of Corrections for Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor, to be served concurrently. The Commonwealth requested a sentence of 12 to 15 years in prison for the combined rape charges with 1 year in the House of Corrections, a maximum sentence, for furnishing alcohol to a minor to be served concurrently. Defense requested a 'very lengthy' probationary period.  

According to a report, in November 2022, Joseph Pini brought a then-16-year-old to his home on Fairgrounds Avenue, North Adams. He proceeded to provide the teen with alcohol and then raped her twice. 

District Attorney Shugrue thanked the jury for their services.

"I commend the North Adams Police Department and the Child Abuse Unit in my office for their thorough and dedicated work in bringing this case to a successful conclusion," he said. "My thoughts remain with the survivor, whose life has been forever impacted by this horrific assault. While no verdict can undo the harm she endured, I hope that the guilty verdict and sentencing bring a measure of closure and allow her the opportunity to move forward.”

Chief of the Child Abuse Unit Andrew Giorilo represented the Commonwealth. Ian Benoit and Shairai Richards served as victim witness advocates on behalf of the Berkshire District Attorney's Office. The North Adams Police Department served as the lead law enforcement agency on the case. 

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