DALTON, Mass. — Central Berkshire Regional School Committee appointed its newest member, Sara Tucker, during its meeting last week.
Tucker will be serving as the committee's Dalton representative taking the place of the town's former representative Nicole Tucker. Although Sara and Nicole share a last name they have no relation.
Nicole Tucker decided to leave her seat early, which caused a vacancy on the committee that needed to be filled. The district put a call out for applications and received three but two dropped out.
The seat will be included in the elections in November so the community can vote who they want to have as the Dalton representative.
Sara Tucker is a supervisor for an adolescent unit at the state Department of Children and Families.
As a social worker, she has experience working with teens in the criminal justice system which the committee has not had before, committee Chair Richard Peters said.
"I'm excited actually, because obviously she has a lot of energy and a lot of really good experience and it's good to have a really great mix of people, parents, other folks who've been not in education, folks that are in education, and we have a really good blend of all of the above characters," Peters said.
"So, it really works out well and everybody on the committee is very respectful and it's just a pleasure to be on this committee, and I hope it maintains that for sure. It actually makes it really nice. So, I'm excited to have her, that's for sure."
Tucker has children in the district, one who will be going to Nessacus Regional Middle School next year and another one is involved in special education and receives Individualized Education Program services. She also is president of the Parent Teacher Organization.
"Since my kiddos started, I've been trying to figure out ways to kind of be helpful to the school system to be helpful to my children and their growth within the school system," Tucker said.
"I think she has an excellent background," Superintendent Leslie Blake-Davis. "She has great ideas, great suggestions. She's very invested in all students. She has children in the district."
As the PTO president, Tucker has helped the Craneville Elementary School principal bring in more "diversity, equity inclusion" with a reading program.
The program works to increase belonging and make children feel included while also encouraging readers, especially the reluctant readers, she said. She is also working with Craneville to bring the entrepreneur fair for its fifth graders.
She has a master's degree in social work from the University of Albany in New York and a post-master's certificate working with adolescents and children that are dealing with different challenges.
"Having that experience and coming from where I'm trying to kind of fix things. I would love to be able to kind of come in here and help create more positive change for our kids and our staff," Tucker said.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
PHS Students: Be Kinder About Our School Amid Scandal
Their ask? Think twice before making negative comments as an outsider.
"Right now, our school is going through, obviously, a lot but from what I have personally seen, I don't think our community has ever been stronger and I just don't think people are getting that," 10th-grader Benjamin Glockner said, reporting that it has been "negative after negative" when hearing from community members.
There was the usual feedback from residents at Wednesday's School Committee meeting but this time, it was matched by testimony from the young people who attend the school.
Student Jessmirac Perry said PHS has experienced its share of negativity "And unfortunately, a significant part of that has come in the form of racial comments and passive-aggressive behavior."
On Dec. 11, PHS Dean of Students Lavante Wiggins was arrested and charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office for allegedly conspiring to traffic large quantities of cocaine. He was the first of three staff members to be put on administrative leave, the other two being investigated by the state Department of Children and Families. Another former staff member at PHS is also under DCF investigation and a civil complaint has been filed against a recently retired teacher and the school related to sexual harassment.
"Recently, I noticed how the arrest of Mr. Wiggins has been used as an example to make racial comments that target the Black community. For example, I overheard someone saying, 'Of course, Mr. Wiggins was dealing drugs. He's a Black man with a Maserati,'" Perry said.
"Yes, what Mr. Wiggins did was wrong but the comments like this go far beyond him as an individual. They hurt an entire community. They perpetuate harmful stereotypes and create an environment where students of color feel judged and unwelcome simply because of their race. No student should ever feel like they can't achieve their goals or that their potential is limited because of the color of their skin."