SBRSD School Committee 2024 Summer Newsletter

Summer
2024
SBRSD
Southern Berkshire Regional School District
Dear SBRSD School Community Members,
As the 2023-2024 school year comes to a close, the School
Committee and the Administrative Team have put together
our third mailer, with the hope of celebrating the successes
of this past school year, providing information on summer
happenings, and to preview some of the exciting things
coming this fall!
This has been quite a year! I truly feel like I say that to
myself every year at this time – but I remain sure that,
this year, it is true! The end of the year allows me a chance
to reflect on all that we have accomplished together, on
the amazing progress I have seen in our community of
learners, and it also represents the completion of my
seventh year as the Superintendent of this amazing school
District! This edition of the newsletter allows me to share
my appreciation for how we continue to grow as a school
community, we review and renew our collective vision, we
continue to improve and innovate, and how we actively
find any opportunity available to engage all stakeholders in
the work. This is incredibly difficult and challenging work,
but it is also the most meaningful and fulfilling work I have
ever done! The good news is that there is no end in sight
to what we hope to accomplish on behalf of our students,
faculty, staff, families, and our communities.
One of the things I try to remind myself of is that research
states that it takes 7 to 10 years to truly make deep, lasting
change. When I was chosen to lead the District, there was
a very ambitious “todo”
list shared with me, but three
things rose to the top: District sustainability, continuing to
improve outcomes for kids, and finding ways to encourage
and include the talents and resources of our community in
all that we do. And it took time - time to truly get to know
all stakeholders, to build relationships, to understand
what they value and their why. This year, we are seeing
the results of all of this hard work, and the District has
emerged as a strong, vibrant, innovative rural leader with
a presence in the state and across the nation. And then - we
took it up a notch! We realized that we needed to get more
choice and voice as part of the process, and especially
from our students. Our teams have learned so much as a
result, and when relevance in relation to their educational
experience was raised as a concern by students, we took
action to ensure our programming made that connection
in a way that made students feel heard, valued, and excited
to take part in. Almost daily, I get feedback from students
who say they appreciate that they have had a chance to
express their ideas, that we are actually listening to them,
and that actions are taken as a result.
The result, is full implementation of our Designated
Early College and Designated Innovation Pathways
programming, the expansion of workforce development
opportunities and internship experiences, a multi-year
Continued on page 2

Continued from page 1
partnership with Transcend for Innovative Educational
Design, and a new BerkStudio experience next year,
and a new Philanthropic Curriculum in 8th Grade that
aligns with our theme of “Know Your Community” just
to name a few highlights!
All of this – is just the beginning, as seven years later,
there is still such incredible energy and innovation to
do things that we hadn’t thought of or tried before.
There remains a commitment to student voice and
deeper community involvement, as this is the only
way we will meet the charge that was put before me
in 2017! I want to thank you all for your partnership
and resilience as it has been instrumental in fostering
an environment where our students, staff, and families
can thrive! Your involvement at SBRSD strengthens
the bonds between our school and the community,
and we are thankful and grateful as we finish out an
unprecedented school year. I am so incredibly proud of
our administration, faculty, staff, students, and school
community and look forward to what we are going to
do next together!
As always, I welcome any opportunity to connect as my
door is always open. Wishing you a restful and relaxing
summer break!
-Dr. Beth Regulbuto, Superintendent of Schools
ELECTION TIME FOR SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS
| Bonnie Silvers, School Committee Chairman
It is that special season of the year; the biennial election of
School Committee members is upon us. In an attempt to
encourage greater participation in the election process, both
for candidates and voters, the following information is being
provided to hopefully answer questions raised by voters and
candidates during recent election cycles.
With the exception of Alford, whose single representative
on the School Committee is only in his second of four
years, each of our other four towns has at least one seat
open (Egremont, New Marlborough and Monterey have
one seat each; Sheffield has two open seats). Our regional
agreement was modified by a vote of all five towns to provide
that as of the November 2012 election, “members of the
Committee shall be elected in biennial state elections by
way of district-wide elections with residency requirements.”
“Residency requirements” are established by an individual
having registered as a voter in the town where he or she
lives. “District-wide elections” mean that all voters in the
five towns can vote for School Committee candidates from
all five towns; not just the town where they live. “Biennial
state elections” occur every two years and the easiest way to
remember them is that they are the elections when we select
our member of the House of Representatives.
Nomination papers to run for School Committee may be
picked up in the District Office by appointment only (229-
8778 Ext. 304). The office, located in the superintendent’s
administrative office area, is open Monday – Friday from
9:00am to 2:00pm. Nomination papers must be submitted to
local registrars for certification by 5:00pm on Tuesday, July
23, 2024. Local registrars then check signatures against their
list of registered voters. It is recommended that a candidate
obtain approximately double the signatures required as some
signatures may not be legible, may not match the signature
on file, or may be from an individual who is not a registered
voter in that town. After registrars review and sign off on
nomination papers, the candidate will be informed to pick
up the completed papers and return them to the District
Office, to Michelle Castellano, by Tuesday, August 20, 2024.
A few additional helpful, I hope, hints:
Encourage people to take the extra two seconds to
write their signatures clearly in blue or black ink
(bring extra pens when you collect signatures)
Collect signatures in more than one town (it’s a way
to introduce yourself especially if you come from a
smaller town)
You can have other people collect signatures for you
(they should identify themselves so it is clear they are
not the candidate but are familiar with the candidate)
Do not collect signatures on government property
(places that often discourage the collection of
signatures on their property: the dump, aka the
transfer station, the post office, inside town hall)
If you are thinking you might want to run for School
Committee, speak to a current or past member who
can give you greater insight into what’s involved in
terms of time commitment, meetings, and work, and
just how rewarding serving on the SBRSD School
Committee can be.

Early College Graphic Design students prepare a silkscreen
ANOTHER YEAR OF GROWTH FOR MOUNT EVERETT EARLY COLLEGE
WITH BARD COLLEGE AT SIMON’S ROCK | Lindy Marcel, Early College & Internship Coordinator
Mount Everett High School is proudly concluding its
second year as an early college institution, in partnership
with Bard College at Simon’s Rock. This transformative
initiative has positioned the Southern Berkshire Regional
School District (SBRSD) as a pioneering educational
environment. Notably, every senior at Mount Everett
has participated in at least one college course during this
academic year.
The program, offering high school students the
opportunity to take college classes and earn credits
for free, saw unprecedented participation in 2024. For
the first time, juniors joined seniors in these advanced
courses, benefiting from instruction by faculty from both
Mount Everett and Simon’s Rock.
This year, students collectively earned a total of 388
college credits, marking a 260% increase from the
previous year. The program’s expansion is aligned to the
district’s college and career readiness plan, which reflects
both student interest and evolving industry demands.
Many students have shared that the program has sparked
new academic interests by offering classes not typically
available in a traditional high school setting.
The transition to our new educational model has been
successful, though it requires significant effort from
students, teachers, and administrators alike. Preparations
start as early as the 7th grade, with sample college classes
and field trips to the Simon’s Rock campus. By the 11th
grade, students have an understanding of how the Early
College program works and are prepared to handle
college-level coursework and schedules.
Mount Everett is establishing a consistent college-level
curriculum that includes Math, English/Language Arts,
Science, History, Arts, and Social Studies. These courses–
like Anatomy & Physiology, Economics, Graphic Design,
Psychology, Statistics, and Writing in the Humanities–
are designed to be highly transferable, allowing students
to save time and money should they choose to pursue a
degree after high school.
Looking ahead, instructors and program staff will gather
this summer to further develop the curriculum. Mount
Everett stands out as one of only four wall-to-wall Early
College High Schools in the state, fostering a culture that
encourages students to be lifelong learners.
3

Top: Class of 2024, Bottom from left: Isaiah McLaughlin receives his diploma, Representative Smitty Pignatelli receives his honorary Mount Everett diploma.
CLASS OF 2024 | Sarah Pollock, School Committee
After years of classes, pep rallies, and forging lifelong friendships,
the graduating class of 2024 at Mount Everett Regional
School is finally poised to take the next big step.
I was given the opportunity to walk the halls of Mt Everett
on the Senior’s last day of school this year. While I was told
some had already left for internships and/or work, I was able
to find a group of them in Ms. Giordano’s room reminiscing
and signing each other’s yearbooks. I had a few questions I
wanted to ask each of them.
The first was, if you could use ONE WORD to describe how
you are feeling about today being your last day of high school,
what would it be? I received an array of answers!
Their feelings consisted of unsure, nervous, hopeful, unreal,
floaty, sad, reflective, bittersweet, thankful, weird, nostalgic,
content, excited, and happy!
Next, I asked what were they going to miss most about school
and Mt. Everett?
Most of them said they were going to miss coming here and
seeing everyone every day! They were going to miss their
friends and the relationships they’ve built with the teachers &
staff over the years. Most said they loved the school’s environment,
the close-knit community, family feel, and they will
miss how caring and supportive everyone was.
Lastly, I asked what they were looking forward to most.
Along with having a crazy, fun summer with friends, many
of them are looking forward to their apprenticeships, internships
and heading off to college. They are looking forward to
being on their own in a new environment and meeting new
people! And they are looking forward to all the opportunities
life has to offer!
It was a pleasure to chat with them and I appreciated them
taking the time on their last day!
This year’s seniors took to the stage at Tanglewood on June 1,
2024 to receive their diplomas. We wish them all the best of
luck in their future endeavors.

Seniors depart for their graduation rehearsal, taking the big yellow bus for the last time at SBRSD.
Class president, Nathan TenBroek, leads the tassel
change from right to left.
Valedictorian, Allison Steuernagle
Salutatorian, Emily Steuernagle
ELEMENTARY GRADUATION
SBRSD fifth graders had their moving up ceremony in June. This important milestone marks the transition from
elementary to middle school and ushers in a new class to Mount Everett Regional. UME fifth graders received
their elementary certificate from their teachers, Ms. Mallory and Ms. Whiteside, and from Principal Miller as their
Kindergarten reading buddies cheered them on alongside their families in the audience!
5

COMMUNITY SUPPORT THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS
| Julie Dolan, Director of Curriculum and Instruction
The graduates of the Southern Berkshire Regional School District are fortunate
to have access to many local scholarships. Groups from our community sacrificed
selflessly to provide scholarships to our graduating seniors at our Mount Everett
Regional School Awards and Scholarship night held on May 29, 2024.
Ivy accepts the Art Department Award
Our graduating class of 2024 received 121 scholarships, conferred to the senior class,
totaling $103,187. These scholarships were awarded based on financial need and
academic achievement. Each organization establishes its own criteria and determines
the method of selection. These scholarships ensure that those who desire to further
their education will not be excluded from doing so because of limited financial
resources. More than 58 local organizations have funded scholarships for our
students. We are thankful for all the support our students get from the community.
CLASS OF 2024 AWARDS
Daughters of the American Revolution
Good Citizen – Shira Sawyer
Massachusetts Secondary Schools Administrator’s
Association – Nathan TenBroeck
Principal’s Leader Award – Shira Sawyer
Massachusetts Superintendent Award
– Allison Steuernagle
President’s Award for Educational Excellence
Panhavotey Chea
Lucia Cicerchia
Kathryn Cohen
Julia Devoti
Megan Loring
Mya Martin
Aiden Murray
Shira Sawyer
Allison Steuernagle
Emily Steuernagle
Nathan TenBroeck
Ivy Webster-Ben David
President’s Awards for Educational Achievement
Kaliegh Eichstedt
Jaide Evans
Alexis Gabriel
Joseph Giumarro
Mercedes Kosik
Kylie-jo Martin
Kayli Smith
Tonilyn Smith
Michael Ullrich
Mable Wheeler
SOCIAL STUDIES AWARD – Lucia Cicerchia
GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT
AWARD – Nathan TenBroeck
AWARD FOR PERSEVERANCE AND DETERMINATION
– Delmar LaGrant
BAND AWARD – Mya Martin
THEATER AWARD – Lucia Cicerchia
SCIENCE AWARD – Mya Martin
BUILDING STRUCTURES AWARD – Paul Harden
CHORUS AWARD – Lucia Cicerchia
CULINARY ARTS AWARD – Jaide Evans
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS AWARD – Nathan TenBroeck
INTERNSHIP AWARD – Kaliegh Eichstedt
MATHEMATICS AWARD – Shira Sawyer
SPANISH AWARD – Shira Sawyer
FRENCH AWARD– Lucia Cicerchia
WELLNESS AWARD – Megan Loring
PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD – Julia Devoti
ART AWARD – Ivy Webster-Ben David
VALEDICTORIAN – Allison Steuernagle
SALUTATORIAN – Emily Steuernagle

KEEP UP WITH SBRSD
SBRSD is committed to keeping our community informed. Here are the ways you
can stay up-to-date on our educational programs:
Did you know SBRSD
has its own channel?
View our videos here:
https://youtube.com/@sbrsd777?si=d0VrGXWLMfZHXEDG
Social Media:
Find us on Instagram, Facebook, and
Superintendent Regulbuto’s X page
(formerly twitter):
@sbrsd_super
@SBRSD
@sbrsdschools
Online publications:
www.yumpu.com/user/
SBRSDEagles
Top to bottom: Mr. Von Ruden and Levi test CO 2
cars designed and built by 8th grade students. Middle School
Band prepares for the Memorial Day parade. Elementary students busy at work. Spread of the Bold Eagle.
sbrsd.org contains news and important information throughout the year including
calendars, registration links, athletic and club events, and student resources!
Be sure to subscribe
to Dr. Regulbuto’s
News and Notes
SUPPORT THROUGH OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY
Even though school is out for the summer, we want
our students, staff, and families to know that they have
people, resources, and a place to come in the event that
one needs to!
SBRSD resources can be found on our website
Bullying Prevention:
https://www.sbrsd.org/page/bullying-prevention
Warm Line
A call-in support line for
families in need of assistance.
Una línea de asistencia telefónica para
las familias que necesitan ayuda.
413-717-8190
Support provided by SBRSD clinical professionals
Available between
6pm-8pm, Monday
through Thursday.
7

2023 summer soccer camp
EXCITING SUMMER 2024 AT SBRSD | Sandi Hubbard, Director of Student Services
As we bid farewell to another fantastic school year, we’re
thrilled to announce a lineup of engaging and enriching
summer programs at SBRSD!
Early Childhood Screening Fair: Our Pre-Kindergarten/
Kindergarten Screening Fair on June 14th and 17th
promises to be an incredible opportunity for our newest
students and their families to get acquainted with our school
community. This two-day event, packed with developmental
screenings and warm welcomes, sets the stage for an exciting
educational journey. Our educators use the information
gathered at the screenings to plan for the 2024-25 school
year. It is certain to be a wonderful event!
FYI - Space for the 2024-25 school year is still available
for our PK programs. Please reach out to us at kfrighetto@
sbrsd.org or mfenn@sbrsd.org if you are a resident of the
district and have any questions about the PK/K programs
or the screening fair.
Special Education and General Education Summer
Programs: From July 1st to August 1st, our Extended
School Year (ESY) and General Education Summer
Programs will be in full swing. With dedicated teachers,
specialists, and support staff, we’re ready to empower
students from PK to grade 8 with academic growth, social
skills development, and plenty of fun-filled projects.
Teachers will oversee summer school programming to
assist students in credit recovery at Mt. Everett, also from
July 1-August 1. We have over 60 children attending our
programs! Transportation and lunch (thanks to our food
service program) is offered to all students who are invited to
the ESY or summer programs.
Summer Reading Program: Dive into a world of
imagination with our K-12 Summer Reading Program! Our
library team has curated an inspiring collection of books,
complete with rewards and special events to keep students
engaged and eager to explore the magic of reading.
Enrichment Camps and Sports Clinics: Ignite your
passions and hone your skills with our summer enrichment
camps and sports clinics! From arts and crafts to STEM
activities, and basketball to soccer, there’s something for
every interest and ability level.
Community Service Opportunities: Join us in making a
difference! Through various community service projects
like beach clean-ups and food drives, students can
contribute positively to their surroundings while building
essential life skills.
We’re committed to providing a vibrant and supportive
summer experience for our students and families. Get
ready for an unforgettable summer at SBRSD!

READY, SET, RUN! TRACK & FIELD COMES TO MOUNT EVERETT
| Bonnie Silvers with technical assistance from Carl Tichenor
This past year a new spring sport offering at Mount Everett
Regional School attracted 25 students to train and compete
in track and field. These student-athletes from grades 7-12
trained and competed in eleven events over the course of
the competitive season that included five Berkshire County
League meets, a non-league meet and three championship
meets. The track and field events included: 100, 200, 400,
800,1600, and 3200 meter races, 400 and1600-meter relays,
as well as entries in shot put, discus, and javelin events.
Though this was the first year for the new team, Coach
Tichenor was ready with a complete training program, a
handbook for students and parents that laid out Coach’s
design for a successful track and field experience for
both individual students and the team, a training
program for all athletes based on Mr. Tichenor’s
approach to the sport. Coach also spent a good part
of the 2022-2023 academic year getting to know a
number of programs in the county and really liking
what he saw as the district’s philosophy related
to the role sports plays in shaping Mt. Everett
students. As a result, despite this being the first
year of competition, it became quite common to
see students realizing dozens of individual personal
best performances at the conclusion of each
competition. Leading into the championship meet
schedule, seven student-athletes met or exceeded
qualifying standards in their respective events to
compete in the Berkshire County Individuals Meet.
Three met or exceeded qualifying standards to
be entered in the Western Massachusetts Track &
Field Championships. And, one student-athlete qualified
for and competed in the MIAA Division 6 Track & Field
Championship with another just missing a qualifying
standard by only ½ inch.
As Coach Tichenor stated at the end of the season: “The
commitment of these student-athletes to the rigorous
training required to reach levels of achievements beyond
their past performances is a testimony to their love and
appreciation for the sport of track and field. Their ability
to represent Mount Everett at a high level in a sport quite
new to each of them is noteworthy and commendable. The
future is bright for Eagles track and field.”
MOUNT EVERETT’S BOLD EAGLE
Mount Everett’s beloved student newspaper, The Bold Eagle,
soared back to life this year after a hiatus of several years.
Under the leadership of Editor-in-Chief Allison Steuernagle,
and Art Director, Emily Steuernagle, the publication has been
successfully revived.
The return of the school newspaper is a welcome development
for students, staff, and the entire community. It provides
a valuable platform for students to share their voices and
perspectives.
Check out past articles here:
yumpu.com/en/document/read/68675761/bold-eaglequarter-4-2024
Be on the lookout for the 2024 printed compilation issue
around our towns this summer!
9

H. DENNIS SEARS—A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS | Bonnie Silvers, School Committee Chairman
After more than sixteen years of
service as a member and leading
force on the SBRSD’s School
Committee, H. Dennis Sears
determined it was time for him to
retire; and, in typical Dennis style,
he did so with a two-sentence
note on May 21. Though we will
celebrate his service later this
summer, this newsletter gives me
the opportunity to share with all
of you why filling Dennis’s seat
may be a matter of following
Dennis Sears
the guidelines of our regional
agreement but filling Dennis’s role in shaping our district
will not be easy. As one of his former colleagues on the
School Committee, Steve Willig of Egremont, said: “Dennis
Sears may have been the smartest person I ever worked with
on School Committee.”
Dennis and his wife Rene Wood moved to Sheffield from
California more than twenty years ago and quickly became
involved in their adopted community both through their
volunteer work and serving in appointed and elected
positions. Dennis had been an IBM executive who worked in
a number of locations in the United States and Europe. Rene
also worked at IBM but had always wanted to move east and
Dennis, always the loving husband, quickly got on board with
the idea of becoming transplants. Not only did they fall in love
with this community, its location made it possible for Rene to
continue her work at IBM in New York City.
Anyone who knows this dynamic couple, knows that they
have been involved in civic and volunteer work since they
arrived. Dennis’ list of activities range from supporting
travelers who stop at a church-supported rest stop of the
Appalachian Trail; to volunteering with the Sheffield
Historical Society, to years of delivering meals on wheels, to
supporting changes in laws, such as the Demolition Delay
Law, that improve our community, to all of his work with the
SBRSD School Committee.
Almost twenty years ago, Dennis began the fight to
switch selection of SBRSD School Committee members
from appointments by the towns’ select boards to elected
positions. He believed that it was important to keep the
selection of School Committee members away from politics
and in the hands of voters; particularly those voters who
were expressing their views as parents of children in the
district. As a result of his tireless work, the initiative passed
and in 2012, the regional agreement was changed to allow
for election of the School Committee at biennial elections.
Sixteen years ago, after fighting for this initiative and winning,
Dennis decided to run for a seat on the School Committee
and won the seat. He has been serving as one of Sheffield’s
four representatives on the School Committee ever since and
usually is the highest vote-getter in the district. Throughout
his time on the SC, Dennis has served as chairman of
several subcommittees, most notably the Policy and Finance
Subcommittees. He has served as our district’s representative
to the Massachusetts Association of School Committees
(MASC) and is well known and respected for his work
initiating state-wide changes to policies.
Years ago, when I questioned Dennis about why he stayed
so centered on an issue without getting emotional, he said,
in all seriousness, that he considers himself a self-actualized
individual; he knows what he stands for, what he will fight
for and when to walk away from a situation. He believes
that this is what keeps him centered on what is important.
Dennis taught me and most every other person on our
School Committee that we are elected to represent all five
towns; not just the town where we reside. When he made
his decision that merger would not be good for our district,
he was able to articulate why it was important for all of us
on School Committee to recognize that we should not let
ourselves to be separated town by town. He truly helped us
all to look at this issue as a five-town issue. Though we never
took a vote as a School Committee to oppose or support
the merger, thanks in great part to Dennis, we looked at the
situation as one that would impact all of our communities
possibly for decades to come.
I will miss having Dennis to bounce ideas off of, to tell me
why I am wrong when he believes I am wrong, to strategize
with and to have a good laugh with. However, better than
my reflections, let me close with our superintendent, Beth
Regulbuto’s, perspective.
“It has been a true pleasure to have had a chance to work
with Dennis Sears throughout my entire career at SBRSD.
I still remember him coming to my previous district as
part of the site visit process and visiting all seven district
schools! He was engaged in every visit, had a snack at every
one of the seven schools, and, what I remember most was
his laughter that carried throughout the hallways of all the
schools. His infectious laughter is something I will always
think of when I think of Dennis. He has such an incredible
amount of knowledge about regional school districts, the
history of their role in MA education, along with a genuine
love and dedication to SBRSD that is truly second to none.
No matter what event or task force or meeting we schedule,
I can always count on Dennis to be present and a valuable
participant! I feel incredibly lucky to have had Dennis as a
colleague and will miss his tremendous contributions to the
district and the school community.”

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: SAM CRAWFORD | Nanci Worthington, School Committee
Sam Crawford
Sam Crawford (Mount
Everett 2006) is a professional
musician, mostly known for
expressive guitar work. Based
in Boston, he is a graduate of
Manhattanville University,
where he met his wife, Emma
Savitz. A member of the bands
QuadraPeg and Clamb he plays
a wide variety of musical styles,
with many different types of
bands all over the world.
Though music was a part of his
home life, according to Sam “It was really getting my hands
on a trumpet in elementary school with Eric Blackburn,”
when his life as a musician began. Smiling he adds, “A
couple of years later I must have gotten big enough
because Mr. Blackburn said ‘You are going to start doing
low brass,’” hence the baritone, euphonium and tuba
addition to his SBRSD band resume.
Sam picked up the guitar at the age of 10. Two years
later, he started lessons with Steve Ide, a guitarist Sam still
considers one of the world’s best. His mom suggested he
also learn bass, highlighting the importance of bassists in
bands. Equipped with a borrowed bass from his cousin Joe
Gulotta, Sam began learning the ropes with classic lines
like Cream’s Sunshine of Love and Led Zeppelin’s How
Many More Times. Then, Mr. Blackburn took over his
instruction, and the rest, as they say, is history...almost.
While playing bass in the jazz band and tuba in the
concert band, a most unlikely member of the SBRSD
community, history teacher Matt Whol, set Sam on his
professional track. He gave Sam a mixed CD, saying “I
know that you are serious about music and I think you
should listen to [who I think] are the best guitar players.”
The CD included musicians like Stevie Ray Vaughn and
Ry Cooder, but it was Robben Ford’s Life Song (One for
Annie) that changed Sam’s life.
“I couldn’t explain it, I couldn’t account for it, I certainly
couldn’t play it, [but] the door opened a crack and I
could see a vastness. I thought I was going to major in
philosophy but when I had that experience, I decided it
was going to be music.”
It was the nature of being a student in the often challenging
but supportive SBRSD environment that gave him the
chops to be the eclectic musician that he is.
“That experience of trying new lots of different kinds of
things started at school. Music, theater, writing, sports
even, there were always instances where I was asked to
go out of my comfort zone, challenge my tendency to
withdraw and be shy. I felt comfortable enough to come
out of my shell and try something new. And that was really
important because I have to do that all of the time now as a
professional musician.
“For example, I have this gig Saturday with a band
I’ve never played with before. I know the some of the
songs already, others are unfamiliar to me but I trust
my musicianship and my professional skills to get me
through. I learned a lot of those music-related skills from
Steve Ide, from Mr. Blackburn and from my professors at
Manhattanville, but I think fundamentally I developed
the courage to go out onto a stage and perform during my
time at Mt. Everett. I really was a shy kid, but the teachers
I’ll always remember helped me find the confidence that I
draw on every day in my work and in my personal life.”
Follow Sam’s career:
https://scrawfordmusic.com/
https://www.instagram.com/clambgramb
https://quadrapeg.com/music
Mount Everett Alumni: Share your news with us!
Email us at alumni@sbrsd.org
24
LEARN MORE ABOUT SBRSD ALUMNI
AND CURRENT STAFF AND STUDENT
ACHIEVEMENTS
Educating Our Eagles, SBRSD’s Curriculum and Instruction
newsletter is available for viewing.
A LOOK BACK AT 2023-2024
11

Southern Berkshire Regional School District
491 Berkshire School Road
Sheffield, Massachusetts MA 01257
413-229-8754 | sbrsd.org
Mya Martin receives her Mount Everett diploma
SBRSD School Committee Members: E. Bonnie Silvers, James DiPisa, Kimberly Alcantara, Sarah Pollock, Carl
Stewart, David Rogers-Thieriot, Arthur J. Batacchi, Jr., Kyle Barlett, Nanci Worthington
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