Northampton, MA – The Board of Directors of the Collaborative for Educational Services (CES) in Northampton has named Dr. Portia Bonner as the new Executive Director of the Massachusetts collaborative. Dr. Bonner will join the agency effective July 1, 2026, succeeding Interim Director Karen Reuter, who will return to her role as the CES Deputy Director. Reuter took the role of Interim in July of 2025, when Todd H. Gazda stepped down from the CES Executive Director role he had held since July, 2021. Gazda made the decision to step down from the Executive Director role in order to take the position of Interim Elementary School Principal at Chester Elementary School.
The Board’s Executive Director Search Committee made its selection after a nationwide search and a thorough review of over 40 applicants. The search process was assisted by John Bass, Senior Advisor, Association of Educational Services Agencies (AESA).
“After a comprehensive and thoughtful search to fill the position of Executive Director for the Collaborative for Educational Services, the board is pleased to announce Dr. Portia Bonner’s selection to lead the agency,” said CES Board Chair Cathy Englehardt. “Dr. Bonner is passionate about student growth and readiness, bringing 30 years of experience from geographically and culturally diverse types of school districts. She has expertise in applying core curricular standards to instruction, building community partnerships, financial planning and accountability, and a strong commitment to equity and diversity. I want to thank the work and dedication of the CES Search Committee members, made up of board members and CES staff, for their work over the course of the past months. I’d also like to thank Karen Reuter for taking on the Interim Executive Director role during this time. In that role, she’s been a consistent and stabilizing voice and provided leadership as we embarked on the search for a new Executive Director. We very much appreciate that her tenure as Interim has afforded us the time to conduct a thorough ED search. The CES Board is proud of the organization’s quality of work, commitment to mission, and passion for excellence, and we look forward to continuing that partnership as we move forward with Dr. Bonner.”
Dr. Bonner has been the Superintendent of Northampton Public Schools since 2023, replacing interim superintendent Jannell Pearson-Campbell. She has more than three decades of experience working in public education. Prior to taking the role in Northampton, Bonner served as interim superintendent for the school district in the town Bozrah, Connecticut. Connecticut. She has served as a high school teacher, college instructor, school principal, head of curriculum, and superintendent in multiple school districts across Massachusetts and Connecticut. She has also served as an independent consultant assisting school districts in the evaluation of academic programs, including the consultation for writing science curriculum for grades K-12, and coaching district leaders in evaluating staff and curricular programs.
Dr. Bonner received her Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum, and Instruction from the University of Connecticut, Storrs, a Master of Science in Biology from Purdue University, and her undergraduate degree in Biology and Sociology from Skidmore College.
Dr. Bonner commented, “It is a privilege and honor to step into this role and partner with such a talented team. I am eager to begin work with the current staff, programs and the member districts, building on our collective strengths as we turn the page toward an inspiring new chapter together.”
To read more, visit the article on the Daily Hampshire Gazette by Scott Merzbach.
For more information, please contact Cathy Englehardt at cenglehardt@collaborative.org.
About the Collaborative for Educational Services (CES)
The Collaborative for Educational Services (www.collaborative.org) is a public nonprofit, educational service agency that offers direct and support services to its 37 member school districts and to various state and district-level clients in Massachusetts and across New England. The work of CES includes a range of direct services for children and youth particularly those at risk; professional development and training for educators and professionals; and coaching, training, evaluation and technical assistance for districts, schools, and community organizations. CES work combines expertise across multiple disciplines in PreK-12 education to advance equity and innovation.
