Bart: a college prep charter school

Joined BART in 2010
curtis.asch@bartcharter.org

Mr. Asch comes to BART from the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, where he was the museum’s Education Program Manager. Prior to this, Mr. Asch was the Writer-in Residence for the North Adams elementary and middle schools and was the site coordinator for the 21st Century After-School programs at Conte Middle School (North Adams). Mr. Asch received his B.A. in acting, writing and directing from Boston University, where he was recognized on the Dean’s List for his community involvement.

Joined BART in 2011
robert.barrett@bartcharter.org

Mr. Barrett is a trained and certified CPR/lifeguard.  In addition to his paraprofessional responsibilities at BART, Mr. Barrett runs his own landscaping business.  Presently he is studying at Fitchburg State University for his B.A. in Criminal Justice with an anticipated 2013 graduation date.

Joined BART in 2010
annemarie.bean@bartcharter.org

For the past 12 years, Dr. Bean has been teaching college courses in African Studies, Humanities, and Performance Studies.  She received her Ph.D. in Performance Studies from Tisch School of the Arts (NY, NY), her M.A. in Theater from the University of California and her B.A. in English and Educational Studies from Wesleyan University.  She has developed and taught classes at Williams College, Wesleyan University, Tisch School of the Arts, the College of Arts and Sciences and Community College of Bennington. Dr. Bean is also a published author of multiple books and articles and an active member of the American Studies Association, the Association for Theatre in Higher Education, and Performance Studies International.

Joined BART in 2003
julia.bowen@bartcharter.org

Ms. Bowen has a background in business management as well as education. She worked at The Monitor Group, an international consulting company headquartered in Boston, where she consulted to clients in the US and Europe and served on the management team of Monitor. Prior to joining the founding BART team, Ms. Bowen was a math teacher at Mount Greylock Regional High School.  In addition to her work at BART, Ms. Bowen serves on the boards of the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association, the Massachusetts Center for Charter Public School Excellence, and the Northern Berkshire United Way. She also serves on the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s District Accountability and Assistance Advisory Committee.  She has a B.A. in Mathematics from Dartmouth College.

Joined BART in 2012
david.bowler@bartcharter.org

Mr. Bowler, a Pittsfield native, comes to BART from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he earned his B.A. in communications and a certificate in film studies.  While at UMass, Mr. Bowler was active with the Alpine Ski Team.  He is also an avid guitar and alto sax player.

Paul Brassard is a photographer, writer and owner of a small family owned media company in North Adams, Massachusetts.   Mr. Brassard opened his first photography studio in the late 1980′s and has over twenty-five years of experience as a professional photographer.  Working as a commercial photographer throughout the Northeast, Mr. Brassard is a published photographer who has had his work purchased by companies as far away as the Netherlands.  Paul Brassard will teach Advanced Digital Photography as one of two high school arts electives offered by visiting artists during the second trimester of the school year at BART.

Joined BART in 2010
steven.bridges@bartcharter.org

Mr. Bridges comes to BART from the First Congregational Church where he served as pastor for nearly 15 years. Mr. Bridges served on the faculty at Andover Newton Theological School and Georgia State University. During his tenure at Georgia State, Mr. Bridges also worked as a guide, trainer and trip leader for the Carolina Wilderness Adventures. He earned his B.A. in Philosophy and Religion at Mars Hill College and his Masters of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School.

Joined BART in 2012
mary.grace.brown@bartcharter.org

With a deep background in mediation and group dynamics, Ms. Brown comes to BART from Pittsfield Public Schools where she served as a peer resource counselor and mediator at the Reid Middle School and Taconic High School. Previous to joining Pittsfield Public Schools, Ms. Brown worked at Berkshire Mediation Services where she continues to serve as Certified Mediator and Trainer. She previously worked as a certified mediator for Children’s Services of Roxbury.

Joined BART in 2007
denise.bushey@bartcharter.org

Mrs. Bushey moved to North Adams from Long Island in 1984 and before coming to BART already had over 20 years of service in the public school system in Berkshire County, including positions at Adams-Cheshire, Mt. Greylock and Taconic, where she has worked in accounting, bookkeeping and payroll.  She also worked at the Berkshire Farm for Boys.  She has completed college courses in computers, accounting and business.

Joined BART in 2006
deborah.calderara@bartcharter.org

Ms. Calderara earned a B.A. in History from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and holds two minors, in Political Science and Local History.  She also earned a M.S. in Moderate Disabilities through Bay Path College and The Reading Institute in Williamstown. In June 2009 Deborah was honored with the distinction of BART’s “Teacher of the Year”.

Joined BART in 2012
kait.calderara@bartcharter.org

Returning to Berkshire County from Fitchburg, Ms. Calderara previously worked as a permanent substitute teacher during the 2010-2011 school year and as a paraprofessional during this school year. Graduating from Westfield State University with a B.A. in political science with a concentration in law and international relations, Ms. Calderara was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and completed two theses. In addition to her work at BART, Ms. Calderara has worked in several restaurants in positions of increasing responsibility and completed an internship at a local law firm.

Joined BART in 2005
jennifer.choquette@bartcharter.org

Ms. Choquette earned her B.A. in Psychology from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Ms. Choquette has also been a volunteer firefighter for 3 years and is working towards becoming fully certified.

Joined BART in 2010
alexis.dekel@bartcharter.org

Nationally board certified in mathematics, Ms. Dekel has 13 years of experience teaching high school and college level classes.  Most recently, Ms. Dekel taught at Pittsfield High School and served on numerous district committees. Ms. Dekel also taught at Redwood High School in Larkspur, CA, the University of California, Berkeley and at Williams College, where she taught a winter study entitled, The Hidden Depths of High School Mathematics.  She earned a M.A. in Education from the University of California, Berkeley and a B.S. in Mathematics from Brown University.

Joined BART in 2009
megan.dostal@bartcharter.org

Ms. Dostal re-joined the BART team in 2009, after completing her M.A. in Education from Washington State University.  Prior to teaching at BART, Ms. Dostal coordinated the after -school program at North Adams Public Schools and served as the resident director and academic mentor at Greylock ABC (A Better Chance), an outreach program for under-represented youth.  Ms. Dostal earned her B.A. from Wheaton College with a major in Hispanic studies and a minor in anthropology.

Joined BART in 2007
erin.egan@bartcharter.org

Prior to joining BART, Ms. Egan was the Youth Substance Abuse Coordinator for the Brien Center’s Child and Adolescent division, a program that she founded in 2005. She has sat on numerous boards and committees within the Northern Berkshire community, including her six-year term as board president of Berkshire Nursing Families. Erin received an M.S.W. from Fordham University at Lincoln Center in New York City, and a B.A. in Psychology from Kent State University. She has also studied psychology at the London Center in South Kensington, London.

Joined BART in 2011
michelle.ells@bartcharter.org

Before joining BART, Michelle Ells worked as both an administrative assistant and guidance secretary in Keene and Conant High School in southwestern NH. Ells most recently served as an administrative assistant at Williams College. She graduated from Monadnock Regional High School and attended Franklin Pierce College where she studied accounting and psychology. She lives with her family in Cheshire, Massachusetts.

Joined BART in 2007
christine.garrity@bartcharter.org

Ms. Garrity volunteered in the public school system for 11 years while working as a hairdresser before joining BART as a para-professional.

Joined BART in 2004
cynthia.grauman@bartcharter.org

Mrs. Grauman started her career in California as a pre-school teacher, then moved to the Berkshires to work at the Berlin School District in Berlin, NY, where she taught elementary art for two years. She received her B.A. in Elementary Art Education from SUNY Potsdam, and her M.A. in Education from Simmons College.  She has also earned an M.S. in Special Education from Bay Path College and The Reading Institute in Williamstown.

Joined BART in 2010
benn.griffin@bartcharter.org

Mr. Griffin graduated with a B.A. in History from the College of St. Rose and went on to earn an M.S. in Adolescent Education.  Prior to joining BART, he taught at junior and senior high schools in Schuylerville and Galway, NY.

Joined BART in 2011
robert.grote@bartcharter.org

Mr. Grote comes to BART after many years of study and examination at MCLA where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in English and completed the Teaching Licensure Program. During and after his work at MCLA, Mr. Grote worked at several Berkshire County schools in various positions from a full-time summer school teacher to pre-practicum work here at BART. Prior to his education career, Mr. Grote spent many years in the restaurant industry where he served as manager or general manager of large restaurants throughout and beyond Berkshire County.

Joined BART in 2007
jp.henkel@bartcharter.org

Mr. Henkel began his teaching career at the William Howard High School in Staffordshire, England and has taught middle school in Atchison, Kansas, and high school in Averill Park, New York. As a technology integration staff developer for the New York City Public Schools, Mr. Henkel founded “@School”, a quarterly magazine providing a forum for teachers to share ideas on integrating technology.  Prior to joining the BART community, he spent 7 years as a textbook editor and production manager for Thomson Delmar Learning. Mr. Henkel earned an A.A.S. in Architecture from the University of Toledo and a B.S. in Technology Education from Bowling Green State University.

Joined BART in 2011
sean.johnson@bartcharter.org

Mr. Johnson joins the BART faculty having taught ELA at Framingham High School from January to May 2011.  While at Boston College, he earned both a Masters of Education in Curriculum & Instruction and a Bachelor of Arts with a major in English & Human Development and a minor in Mathematics. During college, Mr. Johnson was also an active swimmer.  Not only was he a member of the school’s Division 1 varsity swim team, Mr. Johnson was also the captain of the BC water polo team.

Joined BART in 2012
paisley.kang@bartcharter.org

Ms. Kang comes to BART from Williams College, where she graduated with a B.A. in English and a concentration in Studio Art and Music. Previous to her employment at BART, Kang wrote for The Record, the Williams College student newspaper, and served as an intern at the Franklin Furnace, a non-profit dedicated to advocating on behalf of avant-garde artists and to saving and presenting their work.

Joined BART in 2009
sean.keogh@bartcharter.org

Mr. Keogh joined BART after teaching in various parts of the country, including Brooklyn, NY for six years, and in Europe, including the Czech Republic and Portugal, where he taught English as a second language.  During his tenure in Brooklyn, he also coached the basketball team and established an intramural flag football league.  Mr. Keogh earned a B.A. in English literature from the University of Maryland and received his Masters in Education from the University of Montana.

Joined BART in 2006
benjamin.klompus@bartcharter.org

Mr. Klompus joined BART as the Dean of Students, after teaching at Sullivan School in North Adams for 4 years and serving as Resident Director at Greylock ABC (A Better Chance) in Williamstown for 2 years. While teaching in North Adams, Mr. Klompus co-chaired a district-wide Math Improvement initiative and served as a representative on both the Mentor Program Design Team and the Professional Development Committee. Prior to teaching in North Adams, Mr. Klompus served as the Chief Educator / First Mate with Sea Education Association, an oceanic research program for high school and college students that teaches oceanography, maritime history and nautical science. Mr. Klompus received his Masters in Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education with a concentration in Administration, Planning and Social Policy, educational licensure through Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, and a B.S. from Colorado College.

Joined BART in 2013
jennifer.kupiec@bartcharter.org

Joined BART in 2004
john.leclair@bartcharter.org

Bio will be posted shortly.

Joined BART in 2012
jennifer.laforest@bartcharter.org

Ms. LaForest comes to BART from Poultny, Vermont’s Green Mountain College, where she teaches honors physics as an adjunct professor. She has taught math and science at several local schools including Burr and Burton Academy and Twin Valley High School.  She has also taught at Amherst College, Mount Holyoke College and the University of Notre Dame (Indiana). Ms. LaForest graduated from  the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, magna cum laude, with a B.S. in Chemistry, and she earned her M.S. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst with a concentration in physical chemistry. Ms. LaForest has also spent some time in the restaurant business in positions of increasing responsibility including general manager.

Joined BART in 2012
erik.levinsohn@bartcharter.org

Mr. Levinsohn graduated with a B.A. in mathematics from Williams College. Though a Connecticut native, Mr. Levinsohn has spent considerable time in Williamstown working or volunteering with several organizations. He was an on-call firefighter for the town of Williamstown, captain of the Williams Cycling Team and leader for WOOLF (Williams’ outdoor orientation program). He was also co-founder of the Williams Baking Alliance and a research assistant for Williams College and the University of Michigan.

Joined BART in 2006
heather.linscott@bartcharter.org

Ms. Linscott is an enthusiastic outdoorswoman who has been involved in lifelong sports and outdoor activities for over 30 years. She has a B.F.A. in Fine Arts from the University of Hartford and a Masters in Teaching from the University of Massachusetts. Ms. Linscott is on the Board of Directors of the Hoosic River Watershed Association, the New England Mountain Bike Association and the Berkshire Bike Path Council. She was recently added to the board of the Thunderbolt Ski Runners of Adams.

Joined BART in 2011
allen.livermore@bartcharter.org

Mr. Livermore comes to BART from Berkshire Community College, where he was the adjunct instructor of music since 2001. Mr. Livermore has held several positions in secondary and elementary music education throughout eastern New York, working with a wide range of students in different environments. Helming choruses, teaching music theory, and directing bands, Mr. Livermore will bring his extensive talents to the blossoming music programs at BART. He earned his Bachelor of Music from the University of Hartford, his M.A. from Wesleyan University, and his Educational Leadership Certificate from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

Joined BART in 2007
susan.lubell@bartcharter.org

Mrs. Lubell joined the BART team as a paraprofessional in the fall of 2007 while working toward her Masters of Education at MCLA. She received her B.A. in Art History from Wellesley College, where she was a Durant Scholar and a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Joined BART in 2005
martha.mellor@bartcharter.org

Marti Mellor came to BART with close to twenty years experience as a regional school business manager at Mount Greylock Regional School District. While at Mount Greylock, she was a founding member of the Berkshire Health Group and served on the board for 15 years.  In 2005, Ms. Mellor retired from Mount Greylock and joined BART’s team as a part-time business manager. She also serves as the business manager and bookkeeper for the BART Foundation, a non-profit organization formed to support the school’s activities.  She has a Bachelors degree from East Central University in Oklahoma.

Joined BART in 2006
susan.mellstrom@bartcharter.org

Ms. Mellstrom joined BART after leading a career in restaurant management. She has a B.A. from the University of Vermont and is certified in Massachusetts to teach middle school mathematics.  Ms. Mellstrom is also a former member of the Mohawk Trail School Committee (9 years) and former chairman of the Sanderson Academy School Committee (3 years).

Joined BART in 2009
erin.milne@bartcharter.org

A native of Dalton, Ms. Milne returned to the Berkshires in 2009 from Ohio, where she earned her B.A. in Music History and Theory (with a concentration in cognitive science and a minor in psychology) from Oberlin College and her M.A. in Music Education from Case Western Reserve University.  Ms. Milne has presented her original research in measuring student learning at professional conferences, and brings to BART practical experience across several domains of education.  In addition to serving as Director of Instructional Logistics & Assessment, Ms. Milne will continue to direct BART’s choral music program.

Joined BART in 2005
michaela.moore@bartcharter.org

Ms. Moore received her B.A. in Psychology from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Prior to joining BART, Ms. Moore worked as an elementary school teacher’s assistant and as a teacher at a daycare learning facility.

Joined BART in 2008
susan.moore@bartcharter.org

Ms. Moore received her B.A. in Speech Communications and Theater Arts from Simpson College and is a certified Virtual High School teacher. Before joining the faculty at BART, Ms. Moore was a certified math and history teacher in the state of Florida, where she taught for a number of years.

Joined BART in 2007
monique.nottke@bartcharter.org

Bio will be posted shortly.

Joined BART in 2004
brain.o’grady@bartcharter.org

Mr. O’Grady received a B.A. in Studio Art and Psychology from Connecticut College, an MFA in Painting from the Maryland Institute College of Art, and participated in the Getty Museum Management Institute at the University of California Berkeley. He served in a variety of administrative positions at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, as the executive director of Bidwell House Museum, and as an instructor at both Berkshire Community College and Miss Hall’s School in Pittsfield. A recipient of the Massachusetts Cultural Council Fellowship in painting, he has exhibited his work in Berkshire County as well as other venues in New England, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.

Joined BART in 2012
kristen.olmstead@bartcharter.org

Ms. Olmstead holds a B.A. in English Literature with a minor in Education and Religious Studies from St. Lawrence University. In addition to her degree, she also has teaching certificates from New York and New Hampshire. After teaching in Vermont for several years, Ms. Olmstead moved to the United Kingdom. Continuing her relationship with Vermont schools, she led groups of visiting students on tours of the UK that focused on the literature being read in their classes back in Vermont. Ms. Olmstead has also served on school committees and task forces focused on positive behavior systems.

Joined BART in 2007
juraye.pierson@bartcharter.org

Mrs. Pierson came to BART from Pittsfield Public Schools, where she taught special education and 4th grade. Prior to teaching in Pittsfield, she worked in a residential special education school, in a therapeutic after-school program and in a children’s stabilization unit. In addition to her years of service working with children, Mrs. Pierson worked in a teen mothers’ program at the Redfield House in Pittsfield and served as the Chairperson for the Fresh Air Fund in Berkshire County for three years. She earned a B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Social Work and an M.A. in Special Education from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

Joined BART in 2012
caitlin.powers@bartcharter.org

Ms. Powers, the founder of The Education Club at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, has taught and tutored since 2008 in several capacities and locations throughout northern Berkshire County. She earned a B.A. in English and a B.S. in Education at MCLA.

Joined BART in 2007
sarah.prouty@bartcharter.org

Ms. Prouty graduated from SUNY Purchase with a B.A. in Literature and was awarded her M.A. in Special Education through Bay Path College and The Reading Institute in Williamstown.  Prior to teaching at BART, Ms. Prouty worked at Mt. Greylock Regional High School in the special education department and at Williamstown Elementary School as a substitute teacher.  In June 2011 Sarah was honored with the distinction of BART’s “Teacher of the Year”.

Joined BART in 2012
taisha.rodriguez@bartcharter.org

Ms. Rodriguez recently graduated from Williams College with a B.A. in Psychology and American Studies; Latino Studies Concentration. A native of Puerto Rico, Ms. Rodriguez has spent considerable time in Berkshire County working with underserved youth in various settings. She served as a translator for Community Legal Aid in Pittsfield and completed her internship at the John C. Crosby Elementary School in Pittsfield as a school adjustment counselor.

Joined BART in 2004
teresa.schaffer@bartcharter.org

Ms. Schaffer has served as the financial assistant at BART since the school began in 2004. Previous to her employment at BART she worked for several Berkshire County non-profits in administrative roles of increasing responsibility including Ad-Lib, Inc., the Elizabeth Freeman Center and the Western Massachusetts Training Consortium.

Joined BART in 2012
elliot.shields@bartcharter.org

Mr. Shields comes to BART with a unique skill set acquired from both school and life experience. He graduated from Pomona College with a B.A. in Mathematical Economics. While at Pomona he spent a year in Budapest, Hungary studying at St. Olaf College’s Institute of Mathematics. Mr. Shields also served as a research assistant, mentor and grader in Pomona’s math department. After graduating, he took several courses in film and film editing, and he spent 2009 to 2011 at the University of South Carolina School of Law. He has also served with City Year New Hampshire in the seacoast region working in middle school settings.

Joined BART in 2009
melissa.skidmore@bartcharter.org

Ms. Skidmore assumed the position of school nurse at BART in 2009. Prior to her employment at BART she was the school nurse leader for three elementary schools in the Mount Greylock School Union from 2003 to 2008.  Before entering the education field, Ms. Skidmore worked in several assisted living and senior care facilities throughout New England.  As a Registered Nurse (RN), Ms. Skidmore earned her Bachelor of Science, Nursing degree from the University of Phoenix.  She is currently working on completing her Master’s degree in Nursing Education.

Joined BART in 2012
meredith.sullivan@bartcharter.org

Ms. Sullivan graduated from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts with a B.A. in Environmental Science. Prior to her working at BART, she was a substitute teacher in the Pittsfield School system and worked at Hillcrest Educational Center also in Pittsfield. Ms. Sullivan is an active athlete who was captain of both her college and high school basketball teams.

Joined BART in 2007
christopher.tawes@bartcharter.org

Before joining the BART community, Mr. Tawes worked as a Store Manager at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, as an English teacher at both the University of Tennessee and the Baltimore City Public School System, and as a Mac Specialist for Apple, Incorporated.   A summa cum laude graduate of Virginia Wesleyan College in Norfolk, Virginia, Mr. Tawes has also studied at the Westminster College of Oxford University, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and most recently, Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

Joined BART in 2012
leah.thompson@bartcharter.org

Ms. Thompson joined BART after working for a number of years at Heartland Payment Systems, where she developed skills in portfolio management and client services. She earned her Bachelors degree in Classical Languages at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. A Berkshire County native, Ms. Thompson was born and raised in Savoy and now resides in Adams.

Joined BART in 2011
eric.trumble@bartcharter.org

Mr. Trumble comes to BART from the United States Air Force, where he spent the last four years of service in the United Kingdom as the seminar teaching team leader at the Joint Forces Staff College. Mr. Trumble earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Air Force Academy and his Master of Science from Troy State University. Upon his retirement from the military, he reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and spent 14 years as a Combat Rescue and Special Operations Helicopter Flight Examiner.

Joined BART in 2011
mayra.weiskotten@bartcharter.org

Ms. Weiskotten, a native of Ecuador, spent 2007 to 2009 as a Spanish teacher at Waconah High School. Prior to teaching at Waconah, Ms. Weiskotten taught Spanish at the Adult Learning Center in Pittsfield, and worked at Legacy Bank as a bank translator, working with Spanish-speaking customers and assisting the marketing department on bilingual advertising. Ms. Weiskotten earned her bachelor’s degree at Eugenio Espejo College in Quito, Ecuador.

Joined BART in 2006
april.west@bartcharter.org

Ms. West has a B.A. from Bennington College with a thematic degree in Social Conflict, an M.A. in Comparative Cultural Studies from Ohio State University, and an M.A.T. from Bennington College’s Center for Creative Teaching.  While earning her degrees, Ms. West also gained considerable teaching experience with high school and college students and received 20 hours of certified mediation training.

Joined BART in 2009
miles.wheat@bartcharter.org

Prior to joining BART, Mr. Wheat taught seventh grade science and math at the Christa McAuliffe Regional Charter Public School in Framingham, Massachusetts.  Mr. Wheat graduated from Susquehanna University with a B.A. in Environmental and Geological Sciences, and earned an M.A. in Environmental Education from Lesley University’s Audubon Expedition Institute. He has also worked as an analytical chemist in Boston.

Joined BART in 2008
amy.wiles@bartcharter.org

Ms. Wiles joined the BART faculty after working at Conte Middle School in North Adams and C.T. Plunkett Elementary School in Adams.  She has also worked at the LINCS center at Brayton Elementary School in North Adams, where she was a valuable contact for families searching for resources that would enhance their children’s education.  Ms. Wiles has a B.A. in Psychology from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and is currently pursuing her Masters in Education.