By Barbara Craft-Reiss
On a beautiful fall morning, with the Becket-Washington School alive with the sounds and sights of children learning, I had the pleasure of meeting with Dr. Michael Henault and Mr. Aaron Robb, the new Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent, respectively. They have both been in their new positions since July 1, 2025. Prior to assuming these new roles, Dr. Henault was Assistant Superintendent for Central Berkshire Regional School District and Mr. Robb was the Principal of Wahconah Regional High School. Interestingly, they both shared that they have had experience in multiple roles within school settings and as needed have served as substitute teacher, paraprofessional, custodian, and even bus driver! The only job they have not done is cafeteria worker. Maybe a reflection on their culinary skills?
When asked about their collective vision for the district, Dr. Henault stated that his hope is for us to be the best rural school district in Massachusetts by providing our learners with the same resources available to more affluent districts. While leading our district forward, Mr. Robb is intent on getting feedback from all stakeholders. He hopes to build trust and develop positive relationships by being available to all who wish to speak with him. Dr. Henault added that they are a good team in that they share the same mindset.
An important goal they share is improving student outcomes and supporting teachers. “That’s our work; systems are in place to that end,” stated Mr. Robb. Dr. Henault added that CBRSD is doing well with their limited resources compared to those available in larger districts. Teachers strive to meet the current needs of children, which are constantly changing.
They both value the importance of community engagement. The superintendent has been meeting with town administrators as well as select boards. He intends to create community forums to listen to the people and learn of their specific needs. The elected officials associated with our district (Leigh Davis, Paul Marks, John Barrett, and Lindsay Sabadosa) will be meeting with Dr. Henault to tour the schools and discuss funding sources. Mr. Robb stated that using social media is a priority to engage and demystify.
Our seven towns that make up Central Berkshire County (Dalton, Hinsdale, Becket, Peru, Washington, Windsor, and Cummington) are fiscally responsible for our district’s budget. Both Henault and Robb are trying to involve more people in their bottom-up approach to the budget. Community meetings will allow for this—as well as meetings with the school’s leaders to determine what resources they might need.
Children remain at the center of their work. Having their educational roots in the classroom as teachers, they both find joy and validation in observing teachers and children learning and growing.
With their over 49 years of collective experience, it is clear that this district is in most-capable hands. Their ability to work together—with similar visions, leadership styles, and work ethics—allows me, as a school committee member representing Becket and as a retired school administrator, to feel confident that CBRSD is moving forward and doing all that is possible to create the very best outcomes for our children, while balancing that with fiscal responsibility and supporting our educators and staff. Their new energy is palpable, and we are grateful for the leadership of Superintendent Henault and Assistant Superintendent Robb.
