BUCKLAND — Christopher Buckland, 47, of Florence, has been named Mohawk Trail Regional School’s next principal. He is expected to start in early January, pending contract negotiations.
Buckland has served as principal at Smith Academy in Hatfield since 2019, according to a press release from Mohawk Trail Regional School District Communications Director Carla Potts. He joins the district’s leadership team after working as an administrator for the past 10 years.
“We are excited to welcome Mr. Buckland to the district as he assumes the leadership position at MTRS,” said Sheryl Stanton, superintendent of Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont regional school districts. “Chris comes to us from a district similar to ours. He understands the unique challenges our rural schools face, while putting student success for life post-high school at the forefront of his work.”
Buckland will fill the position vacated this month by Principal Marisa Mendonsa, who was hired as deputy superintendent of Pittsfield Public Schools. Assistant Principal Diane Zamer will serve as interim principal until Buckland arrives.
Stanton said in the press release that throughout the search process, Buckland received high marks from the search committee as well as from the parent, student and staff feedback groups.
“Everyone who met Chris throughout this process seemed to feel the same way — that he fit here,” Stanton said. “From the feedback we received, our stakeholders felt he not only had all of the qualifications, but he had the drive and passion to keep moving MTRS forward with its Trailblazer model work and helping to make the school the best choice for our students.”
Prior to his time at Smith Academy, Buckland worked at High School of Commerce in Springfield for four years, holding the titles of founding director of personalized pathways, career pathway coordinator and educator, according to the release.
Buckland comes to Mohawk Trail Regional School with a variety of experience in schools both in the United States and abroad, the release continues. He held positions at Saint Andrew’s Scots School in Buenos Aires as an assistant principal of teaching and learning and the head of the English department. Additionally, he was a middle school coordinator at Windhoek International School in Namibia.
After learning about the school’s redesign over the past several years through implementation of its Trailblazer model — which focuses on student-centered learning and aims to prepare students for the world after high school — Buckland said in the release that he is excited to see how the new model empowers students to be leaders in their own learning journeys.
“I am looking forward to getting into classrooms to see first-hand the wonderful work that has already begun under former Principal Mendonsa and Superintendent Stanton’s leadership,” he said. “The Trailblazer model is very exciting, as this is exactly the frame that will allow students to drive their own experiences.”
While serving as principal at Smith Academy, Buckland said he learned it was “vital to cultivate support from students, families, staff and the community in sustaining a positive, collaborative learning environment” both inside and outside the classroom. As he transitions to his new role at Mohawk Trail Regional School, Buckland said in the release that he will use his previous experience to move him forward with the Trailblazer model and help align it to the district’s strategic plan.
“I am incredibly excited and honored to join the MTRS family,” Buckland said. “It was a real pleasure to meet and talk with the students, family members, staff and admin teams as part of the hiring process.”
During his first few weeks on the job in January, Buckland said he plans to spend his time getting to know students and families, learning his way around the building and getting to know staff.