Laurel Peltier, Ed.D. is a Curriculum and Instruction Specialist in Special Education at the Collaborative for Educational Services. Her work focuses on special education leaders and leadership, and particularly on facilitating the IEP team process with people inside of schools and in community settings who support kids who have disabilities. We recently asked Laurel whether at this time, the role of special education team leader is more important than ever. She responded, “Special education funding has been an issue for as long as I have been in the field of education, and while...

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HEC Academy in Northampton Graduates Class of 2021
2021 Graduates from HEC Academy in Northampton, MA, celebrate at Union Station with their families. Northampton, MA -- Nine students graduated from HEC Academy in an in-person ceremony held at Union Station on Friday, June 4th. The Academy is an alternative...
Mount Tom Academy Class of 2021
Photo courtesy of Daily Hampshire Gazette Staff Photographer, Kevin Gutting. Mount Tom Academy, an alternative learning program run by the Collaborative for Educational Services (CES) and hosted by Holyoke Community College, graduated four students in an in-person...
Gazda named director of region’s educational resource center
Todd H. Gazda, the new executive director for the Collaborative for Educational Services, got a somewhat late start in education, as he first worked as a contract attorney after earning a law degree in the mid 1990s. But the Middlefield native later became a social...
Gazda named as new Executive Director
The Board of Directors of the Collaborative for Educational Services (CES) in Northampton has named Todd H. Gazda, Ed.D., J.D., as the new Executive Director of the Massachusetts collaborative. Dr. Gazda will join the agency effective July 1, 2021, succeeding...
Hinds and Blais say launch of Rural Schools Commission ‘a big win’ for region
GREENFIELD — State Sen. Adam Hinds and state Rep. Natalie Blais recently chaired the first meeting of the state’s Rural Schools Commission, and they expect that the body will have recommendations by the end of the year for how to permanently fund rural school...
Youth substance abuse prevention programs get state funding
BOSTON (WWLP)–Youth substance use prevention programs across the state will receive grant funding through a state health initiative. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) and the Department of Public Health (DPH) announced $3.8 million in...
Kristen Smidy named Gateway Regional School District superintendent
HUNTINGTON — The Gateway Regional District School Committee has named Kristen Smidy, the principal of Hampshire Regional High School, as the district’s next superintendent. The committee voted 11-1 on Wednesday to offer Smidy the job. She was one of four finalists...
Massachusetts to recommend modifying MCAS graduation requirements for Class of 2022
In light of the COVID pandemic’s impact on the school year, Massachusetts Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Jeffrey C. Riley announced he will be recommending changes to the state’s graduation requirements for the Class of 2022. The...
Diana Bonneville named Hampshire Regional School District’s new superintendent
WESTHAMPTON — The Hampshire Regional School District’s school committees have selected Diana Bonneville, currently the interim superintendent of South Hadley Public Schools, as the district’s next superintendent. Pending contract negotiations, Bonneville will take...
The Amherst Mobile Market finishes first year, planning for the future
After two years of planning, the Amherst Mobile Market had a very successful first year, closing out the series of weekly markets in October, 2020. The market met initial goals and received strong feedback from participants to begin planning for future seasons....
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