Our School Committee members devote countless hours behind the scenes helping shape the future of Berkshire Hills Regional School District. As classrooms across campus settle into mid September, we continue our introduction of the dedicated individuals who volunteer their time in service of our students, staff, and community. Read on to learn more about what motivates (the second half of!) our School Committee members to serve and what each of them is looking forward to in the year ahead. 

NOTE: Check out last week's newsletter for the first five members we profiled! 

William Fields has served on the BHRSD School Committee for 12 years. A long-time teacher, he has remained deeply invested in the importance of public education and its role in serving communities. This year, Fields is especially interested in seeing how Fish Tank ELA, the District’s new literacy curriculum, progresses at Muddy Brook Elementary and the impact it will have on students. Fields’ commitment to learning extends beyond the local community. He is invested in the importance of public education at the local, state, and national levels and what it represents for students and families. “Our public schools are the true measure of how a democracy can truly serve all of its citizens and not just a privileged few,” he says.

This year marks Andy Potter’s eighth on the School Committee, and he remains grateful for the opportunity to serve students, families, educators, and communities. From his perspective, public education asks a community to think beyond the immediate moment. “Decisions made today can shape a child’s experience for years to come, and I have never taken that responsibility lightly,” says Potter, noting the collective commitment this requires: teachers and staff who work directly with students, administrators who turn goals into practice, families who advocate for their children, and community members who support our schools. Given his belief that strong literacy instruction is fundamental to a student’s education, Potter is excited to see the district’s new reading curriculum take root—noting that its success will depend upon thoughtful implementation, sustained support for teachers, and careful attention to how well it serves every student. In the meantime, he's “honored to serve and enthusiastic about what we can accomplish together.”

A 1989 graduate and the father of three children who have gone through the District, Jason St. Peter is finishing his third term on the School Committee, marking 12 years of service. Today, as chair of the new high school building committee, St. Peter is focused on guiding the project forward while minimizing disruption for current students and creating a building that reflects the values of the District and community. Keeping the project as far under budget as possible is another priority. For St. Peter, the work is deeply personal. He is grateful for the opportunities the District’s member towns and its teachers, administrators, and staff have provided his family, and he sees the new high school as an opportunity to help carry that legacy forward. “I’m committed to working my hardest so that future generations will have the same opportunities we did,” he says. As the new high school takes shape, St. Peter is focused on building upon the strong foundation that has served generations of BHRSD students. 

Alison Read joined the BHRSD School Committee just over a year ago with a commitment to constructive change and a desire to help the District continue moving forward. She is particularly excited about the Monument Mountain Regional High School building project and what it means for the future. “I’m impressed by the new building’s size and architectural prowess,” says Read, who hopes students, staff and community members will respond positively to the light, bright spaces and higher ceilings—and to the opportunities the new facility will provide. From Read’s perspective, meaningful improvement extends beyond the physical space. She believes meeting the standards set for students—and by students—will require continued investment in teacher training and thoughtful hiring, as well as a willingness to improve or change what has not worked in the past. 

Driven by a belief that access to a quality public education is one of our greatest levelers, Sarah Tonetti has served on the BHRSD School Committee since February 2025. As the product of caring teachers and community members who believed in her, Tonetti is excited by the progress being made in expanding opportunities for every student. “More students—including those from a wider range of incomes and backgrounds—are taking AP courses and succeeding,” says Tonetti of a rising tide. She is equally encouraged by continued investment in career pathways that give students options for building meaningful professional lives, whether through college, technical training, or the workforce. “One of the great privileges of serving on the School Committee is having a front row seat to the amazing things our teachers and students are doing,” says Tonetti with pride in the direction of our young people, our schools and our community.