Berkshire County Arc Hires New Risk Management Specialist

11:42AM / Friday, June 20, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Amber Steele has been hired as Berkshire County Arc's (BCArc) Risk Management Specialist.

This is a new position at the Agency that will focus on the health, safety, and well-being of individuals with disabilities who BCArc supports, and BCArc staff. The position will support all the programs across the Agency by looking at potential risk, identifying trends and patterns, and recommending solutions. The position reports directly to the CEO.

Steele has worked at BCArc previously for several years, her most recent position as Director of Brain Injury Services. Three years ago she left BCArc to explore other opportunities.

"She will be a huge asset to this Agency, and is an incredible fit for this new position," said Maryann Hyatt, BCArc's CEO. "Her experience and knowledge of this Agency will provide a new support system around risk management for all of us."

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Teacher of the Month: Nickole Halvorsen

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:21PM / Monday, August 31, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — For many students, kindergarten is their first experience in a school setting and the beginning of ongoing growth and change throughout their lives.

Kindergarten teacher Nickole Halvorsen strives to instill in her students the foundational academic and social-emotional skills they need to succeed not only in her classroom, but throughout their educational journey and beyond.

It is this dedication, along with the fun, safe and welcoming environment that students describe her as cultivating, that has earned her the iBerkshires.com Teacher of the Month designation.

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.

The end of the year was bittersweet for Halvorsen and her students as they said goodbye to Morningside Community School, which closed its doors for the final time in May.

"Now at the end of the year, it gets sad and a little more emotional, especially this year because this is our last year at Morningside," she said during her interview in May.

So, really focusing on coming in, being here, being present [and] consistent for them matters the most for me, and they make me want to be here. I want to have fun with them. I want to enjoy every last bit we can of being in the school building."

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