Educators Gather at MCLA for Leadership Conference

07:30AM / Sunday, June 28, 2026Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Educators from across the region will gather at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) from July 6-8 for the Leadership Conference, the capstone of the Leadership Academy's 2025 cohort and the kickoff for the incoming 2026 cohort.

The conference will open Monday, July 6, with a keynote from Julie Haagenson, founder of New Pathways, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Murdock Hall. Scholar Robert Putnam will give the July 7 keynote, also 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Murdock Hall. Morning presentations will follow from Leslie Blake-Davis on July 7 and Matthew Bishop on July 8.

Concurrent sessions run July 7 and 8, from 10 a.m.-3:45 p.m., led by members of the 2025 cohort. Presenters share the research, strategies, and leadership practices they built over the year.

Sessions take on the issues schools face now: building inclusive communities, strengthening instructional leadership, improving operations, and supporting every student. They are organized around the four standards of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Professional Standards for Administrative Leadership:

Instructional Leadership
Management and Operations
Family and Community Engagement
Professional Culture

"The Leadership Conference is the culmination of a year of growth, collaboration, and commitment to educational excellence," said Marianne Young, director of the Leadership Academy. "These presentations show the talent and dedication of current and aspiring school leaders working to create better outcomes for students, families, and communities across the region."

The conference will run in a hybrid format, with sessions open on campus or remotely. Registration is encouraged.

The Leadership Academy supports educators working to strengthen their leadership skills and lead effective, equitable, student-centered schools. The annual conference both celebrates the cohort's work and gives educators a chance to learn alongside colleagues from across the region.

For more information about the conference or the Leadership Academy, contact MCLA's Division of Graduate and Continuing Education at dgce@mcla.edu or 413-662-5575.

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North Adams Housing Authority Director Steps Down

Staff Reports09:16AM / Friday, October 09, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Jennifer Hohn, the longtime executive director of the North Adams Housing Authority (NAHA), has stepped down after 24 years with the agency.

The Berkshire Eagle reported that Hohn resigned from her position on Thursday. The NAHA Board of Commissioners is currently developing a transition plan.

Her resignation follows rising tension between Hohn and the tenants association. Residents—particularly at the Spring and Ashland Park apartments—have raised specific concerns regarding building security, drug activity, and trespassers.

This summer, Tenants Association President Corey Fortin posted a video on social media demonstrating that door alarms in some of the buildings were not functioning.

Shortly after the video was posted, the tenants association's office was locked. Members alleged Hohn locked the space in retaliation, while Hohn maintained it was a matter of tenant safety. Hohn also stated that NAHA does not officially recognize the association because it has yet to go through official channels for certification—a claim the tenants association disputes.

The dispute culminated in plans for a formal grievance hearing between Hohn and the association. Both sides agreed to hold a meeting on Oct. 3, but the hearing had not yet been scheduled at the time of her resignation.
During her tenure as director, Hohn oversaw significant changes at NAHA, including expansion and the dissolution of Housing Opportunities Incorporated, a program founded over 30 years ago to assist first-time homebuyers. Most recently, she led efforts to transition NAHA properties from traditional public housing models to the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program. She also directed the rebuilding of a Greylock Valley Apartments building after it was severely damaged by a fire.

The NAHA Board of Commissioners meets monthly, typically on Mondays.

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