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BART Students and Staff Continue Building!
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Igoe Appointed Permanent Executive Director
On Monday, March 9, the BART Board of Trustees announced that after an extensive international search, a familiar face will be leading us into our next chapter. Jonathan Igoe has been officially appointed as BART’s Executive Director following a unanimous board vote.
Mr. Igoe brings a wealth of experience to the role, including years of leadership at the Williamstown Youth Center and Overland, and experience as a classroom teacher. As the Interim ED, Jonathan led the successful 2023 Charter Renewal Process and spearheaded our 2025-2030 strategic plan. He has also overhauled BART’s grant writing process, working with an in-house team that has brought hundreds of thousands of dollars to BART through competitive grants.
Board Chair Tom Bernard noted that Mr. Igoe’s leadership style is defined by a "human-centered" approach, balancing the complex operations of a charter school with a genuine presence on campus.
“Although I am not new to BART, I have enjoyed the warm welcome to this position from students, families, teachers, and staff since the announcement,” Jonathan shared. “I am really excited about the leadership team we have in place. We have seen solid progress in terms of school climate and academics.”
For Mr. Igoe, the strength of the BART experience is found in the intersection of rigorous academic standards and a deeply rooted sense of community. Whether he’s running flex block or presenting the strategic plan to the board, his focus remains on ensuring every student feels supported. He is particularly focused on academic excellence to ensure all students are college-ready, while also fostering student engagement.
Mr. Igoe is also a champion of our community partnerships, supporting student participation in the MASS MoCA Teen Invitational, the nbCC Youth Health Collaborative, and the Portrait of a Graduate initiative.
“One of the things I am most proud of is my involvement in the life of the school,” Jonathan said. “I love seeing students perform and compete, and in the classroom, engaging and learning. We are strengthening an environment where students are challenged and supported, and where every student feels welcomed.”
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Are You BART Smart?
BART’s biggest fundraising event of the year, Get BART Smart, is next Saturday, April 11! All proceeds from this event directly support student programming. The energy of Get BART Smart is unlike any other fundraiser. Teams of up to six players gather to compete in a trivia contest throughout BART classrooms in subjects like STEAM, Art @ BART, and BARThropology.
Tickets are $75 and include dinner, drinks, and Shire Donuts along with an entertaining program. Register today to get on the roster. https://bit.ly/GBS_26_Register
Be sure to check our online auction for local getaways, delicious gift certificates, exclusive experiences, rounds of golf, and so much more! |
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Diversity and Representation Remain at the Forefront
BART continues to bring learning to life through a wide range of culturally rich and community-connected programming that deepens our students’ understanding of history and identity. Just this year, students have engaged with dynamic guest speakers, viewed and participated in performances, and celebrated the diversity that makes us great.
Highlights included a powerful visit from Annawon Weeden, who shared Indigenous history and perspectives, offering students an opportunity to connect directly with the living cultures of the region. The arts played a central role, with a vibrant live performance by Misty Blues for our Black History Month Event and a fast-paced salsa class led by Alan Franco, as well as a Mariachi Band performance during our Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. These school-wide events have created space for students to share traditions, food, music, and joy, fostering a strong sense of belonging and appreciation.
BART Freshmen traveled to the Plimoth-Patuxet living museum to study early self-governance through the Mayflower Compact and to engage in a Wampanoag-led program that presents Indigenous perspectives on colonial history. They also travelled to Salem to explore the breakdown of civil society at Salem State University’s Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies and the Salem Witch Museum. These experiences allow students to draw direct connections between historical events, civic responsibility, human rights, and the long-term consequences of intolerance and social panic.
In February, the Mobile Museum of Tolerance (MMOT) was on campus for a powerful 3-day residency. Every BART student took part in their immersive and interactive programming on Civil Rights and American History.
These are just a few of the experiences that demonstrate BART’s commitment to inclusive, experiential learning. Our students don’t just learn about the world, they engage with it!
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Tech Certification @ BART
This semester, BART launched a new CompTIA Tech+ Certification course, an offering designed to equip students with in-demand technical skills and industry-recognized credentials.
Led by Director of Technology Christopher Tawes, the course provides students with the opportunity to earn certifications that hold real value in today’s technology workforce. Students build practical skills in computer science that prepare them for both college and career. We are particularly excited about creating an opportunity for students to enter the workforce with confidence and earning potential in this rapidly growing field.
“This course is about more than passing an exam,” said Tawes. “It’s about giving students the confidence to solve real-world problems and the qualifications to prove they can. We’re opening doors that many students don’t typically see until much later.”
As one of the few programs of its kind in Berkshire County, this course marks an important expansion of BART’s burgeoning commitment to credentialing pathways. Stay tuned as we build upon this with more career-aligned experiences that set BART apart.
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Touring Campuses in Adams?
In addition to the many, many campus visits our students gain throughout their time with us, BART is proud to expand that access through the use of virtual reality, giving students the opportunity to visit campuses across the country and around the world without leaving the classroom.
Using VR headsets, students experience immersive campus tours, stepping into lecture halls, residence spaces, and student centers while gaining a feel for different college environments. These virtual visits help students better understand what they’re looking for in a school and give them a leg up as they prepare for and eventually navigate their selection process.
By removing barriers like distance and cost, this technology ensures that all students can explore a wide range of options and, importantly, begin to envision themselves on a college campus. It’s just another example of our commitment to expand students' view of the world through arts and technology.
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BART Matches Wits with Conard
BART students returned to the stage for "As Schools Match Wits," the distinguished Western Massachusetts Public Television show that pits teams of students against each other to prove who has the best trivia chops.
Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 24th, as BART takes on Conard High School in a battle of the brains. You can catch them on NEPM TV or streaming on the PBS Video app and YouTube. |
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BART 10th Graders Take on the Big Apple
 The 10th graders left the Berkshires for their annual three-day New York City field trip at the end of March. Stopping at the University at Albany on the way to the city, the group participated in a campus tour and had lunch at the dining hall. The group continued on via Metro North to Grand Central Station and then Times Square. Students toured the New School and Pace University, explored Times Square, Union Square, Central Park, the High Line, and Chelsea Market.
The group visited the National Museum of Mathematics at its new location and spent Friday evening at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. “When we left BART on Thursday, we asked students to be fully present and engaged with the experience. I was so impressed with how BART students took on the challenges and excitement of visiting the Big Apple.” Ms. LeSage estimated that the group walked about 10 miles each day, including up and down many subway and hotel steps. “While we had some tired legs and sore feet, the students got so much out of the experience.” |
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Enrolling the BART Class of 2033
Do you know a child who would thrive at BART? The School's Enrollment Department is available to connect with Massachusetts families seeking a challenging, innovative, and college-preparatory school in Berkshire County.
The next enrollment deadline for the 2026-2027 school year is May 12, 2026. Interested families should apply online, visit our website to learn more, or contact enrollment@bartcharter.org with questions. BART educates students in grades 6-12 and accepts applications for students enrolling in grades 6-10. The best time to apply is now!
enrollment@bartcharter.org(413) 743-7311 x732 |
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Spring 2026
