Berkshire Hills Regional School District

Berkshire Hills Regional School District The regional K-12 public school district for Great Barrington, Stockbridge and West Stockbridge (Massachusetts).

Matt Pegorari’s passion for teaching was sparked sophomore year in high school when tasked with leading his honors biolo...
09/05/2026

Matt Pegorari’s passion for teaching was sparked sophomore year in high school when tasked with leading his honors biology class in a lesson about starfish and sea cucumbers. He’s been teaching full time for 16 years, and his experience includes chemistry, biology, anatomy and physiology as well as greenhouse management, conservation and ecology. “I love working with emerging adults and am incredibly excited to start this new chapter at the high school I attended,” says the 2005 graduate of MMRHS—a well-rounded environment he remembers being open to new learning initiatives for students. Looking ahead, Pegorari has his sights set on getting to know his [high school science] students, collaborating with his colleagues, and participating in extracurricular activities like cross-country running, where he will serve as the assistant girls’ coach. Another perk of the new job? Getting to one day teach his own children, their friends, and his friends’ kids. “BHRSD is a wonderful community that always strives for excellence.”

Peter Maxeiner has always been driven to share his curiosity with others. Rumor has it he once led hiking trips with a w...
09/03/2026

Peter Maxeiner has always been driven to share his curiosity with others. Rumor has it he once led hiking trips with a whiteboard tucked under one arm, using it to explain the history of the surrounding mountains. For the past decade, he has brought that same enthusiasm for learning to his work in education and youth development, both in and out of the classroom. After moving to the Berkshires with his family, Maxeiner was introduced to BHRSD by a friend who knew he was looking to teach. Immediately struck by the District’s welcoming community, he saw an opportunity to learn and grow. “I’m looking forward to finding ways to bring math to life with my fellow educators and exploring how math connects to all our lives with [high school] students in the classroom,” says Maxeiner. As to his own learning goals? Digging into local geology and the history of nearby Monument Mountain.

Seth Lewis Levin (middle school principal) has been working with kids since he was ten years old. He was the fifth grade...
09/01/2026

Seth Lewis Levin (middle school principal) has been working with kids since he was ten years old. He was the fifth grader who volunteered to read aloud in kindergarten classrooms and the Counselor in Training who stayed after hours when a camper waiting for a parent needed a buddy. His formal entry to the field came in 2000, and his experience spans PK classrooms to college campuses. At BHRSD, Lewis Levin saw a community committed to educating the whole child and creating opportunities for every student, from performance music to varsity sports and dozens of others in between. This year, he looks forward to growing alongside staff, families and students. “Every time I learn something new from a seventh grader it makes me smile; a pro-tip from a parent puts me at ease; a new reading strategy from a teacher makes that lightbulb pop above my head,” says Lewis Levin whose passion for school and learning run deep.

Patrizia Barbagallo’s love of language began early. While still in high school, she discovered a passion for teaching as...
08/29/2026

Patrizia Barbagallo’s love of language began early. While still in high school, she discovered a passion for teaching as a German tutor. Born and raised in Switzerland, the experience helped set the native French and Italian speaker on a path toward sharing her enthusiasm for language with others. A Berkshire resident since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Barbagallo has come to appreciate the region’s countryside surroundings which remind her of Geneva. After owning and operating Bixie Boulangerie for almost five years, Barbagallo will carry her recipe for success from the European-style bakery to the classroom: “Patience, calm, and following instructions [are all necessary],” says Barbagallo, who looks forward to helping her middle school French students discover the joy of learning a new language and connecting with another culture. At the heart of what she hopes to accomplish is something simple: “The love of language.”

School starts for students on Monday August 31. Let's keep an eye out for students and buses.
08/26/2026

School starts for students on Monday August 31. Let's keep an eye out for students and buses.

The 2026–27 school year begins on Monday, August 31, with students in all three schools returning for a full week of cla...
08/24/2026

The 2026–27 school year begins on Monday, August 31, with students in all three schools returning for a full week of classes. Because Labor Day falls on its latest possible date this year, the opening schedule differs from recent years' staggered start. Schools will be closed on Monday, September 7 in observance of Labor Day, and the first early-release day for professional development will be Wednesday, September 16. For additional information about holidays, early-release days, and vacations, please refer to the 2026–27 School Calendar: https://www.bhrsd.org/school-calendar-26-27)

While selecting brick may seem like a small design decision, it marks one of the most significant visual milestones of t...
08/23/2026

While selecting brick may seem like a small design decision, it marks one of the most significant visual milestones of the High School Building Project. Over the past several months, a collaborative process ensued in order to evaluate brick colors, textures, and mortar combinations through site visits, full-scale mockups, and design reviews—all with the goal of ensuring the selected materials complement the Berkshire landscape while creating a timeless appearance that reflects the character of the community. Fun fact: Mortar accounts for nearly 20 percent of a brick wall’s visible surface, meaning subtle changes in color can dramatically influence the warmth, depth, and character of the finished façade. The updated renderings shown here—featuring a complementary red mortar that enhances the bricks’ natural variation while maintaining a cohesive architectural appearance—offer the community its clearest look yet at the future Monument Mountain Regional High School. The updated renderings shown here—featuring complementary red mortar that enhances the bricks’ natural variation while maintaining a cohesive architectural appearance—offer the community its clearest look yet at the future Monument Mountain Regional High School.

While summer offers time for rest and rejuvenation, there is also plenty of work underway to prepare for the year ahead—...
08/21/2026

While summer offers time for rest and rejuvenation, there is also plenty of work underway to prepare for the year ahead—almost too much to mention, according to Principal Christopher Barnes. He and Mr. Lurgio attended the Massachusetts School Administrators Association Summer Institute, where they connected with colleagues from across the state to explore ideas around school culture and leadership. Ms. Boyko continues to refine and improve curricular resources to better support students who need additional help while providing greater challenge for those ready to go further. She is also working to strengthen consistency in grading across classes. Meanwhile, our instructional leads are using Atomic Habits by James Clear to explore ways to help students build stronger executive functioning skills while preparing professional learning resources and strategies for the year ahead.

Principal Seth Lewis Levin reports: At W.E.B. Du Bois, the real magic happens in our grade teams! We were absolutely del...
08/19/2026

Principal Seth Lewis Levin reports: At W.E.B. Du Bois, the real magic happens in our grade teams! We were absolutely delighted to have set aside money in the professional development budget this summer to bring teachers together to reconnect, reflect, and dive deep into planning for the year ahead. Having dedicated time to focus on Crew, targeted interventions, and instructional alignment allows us to bring a level of intentionality to our work that is so hard to capture once the building is bustling with students.

A massive thank you to our incredible Grade Team Leaders for their dedication, vision, and hard work in setting our teams up for success:

Paul Beling (5th Grade)
Kim Cormier (6th Grade)
Brendon Heck (7th Grade)
Kristie McLaughlin (8th Grade)

Because of their early leadership, our grade teams are recharged, aligned, and ready to make this school year our most powerful one yet. Please join us in celebrating their hard work!

Fourteen members of the Class of 2026 earned the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy, including three students who ea...
08/17/2026

Fourteen members of the Class of 2026 earned the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy, including three students who earned the Seal with Distinction, the highest level of recognition. The Seal recognizes students who demonstrate proficiency in English and another language through state-approved assessments, while the Seal with Distinction honors students who demonstrate advanced proficiency in both languages. Three underclass students who have already qualified for the Seal will continue working toward earning the Seal with Distinction before graduation. The Seal of Biliteracy is one of a number of certificates, endorsements, and recognitions available to MMRHS students as they work to build skills, demonstrate core competencies, and prepare for success beyond high school.

Address

50 Main Street
Stockbridge, MA
01262

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+14132984017

Website

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