Free In Person Seminar – Building Capacity and Resources in Public Schools – Jan. 8, 2025 – Open to All Western Massachusetts Educators

Massachusetts educators from Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire Counties are invited to attend this free in person event

Holyoke Police Academy
600 Kelly Way
Holyoke, MA 01040

SpeakerS

PDPs and CEUs are not being offered for this event.

Description

This seminar features Dr. Alex Hirshberg, Hirshberg Behavioral Services, LLC, speaking on Leveraging Mental Health Resources Effectively and Attorney Michael Joyce, Nuttall, MacAvoy & Joyce, P.C., presenting on Legal Issues Impacting Schools. Superintendents, Principals, Special Education Administrators, Social Emotional Learning and Wellness Directors, School Counselors and School Psychologists are encouraged to attend.

This in person free seminar is open to educators from Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire Counties. A continental breakfast will be available.

About the SpeakerS

Joseph Baeta, Ed.D., (he/him) is entering his second year as the Superintendent of Stoughton Public Schools. Prior to that, he was the Superintendent of Norton Public Schools for ten years, and Superintendent of Schools in Holbrook, MA for four years. Joe also has been a high school principal, academic coordinator at a regional-vocational district, high school teacher, coach and advisor and been actively involved in local politics in his hometown of Stoughton, MA. He has a B.S. in History/Secondary Education from Fitchburg State University, a M.A. in Applied Linguistics from UMass and an Ed.D in Educational Leadership from The National University.  He has also presented at various international, national, regional and state conferences during his 16 years as a Superintendent of Schools. Joe is currently working on his first book on best practices in leadership with a scheduled release in 2026. 

Margie Daniels, M.Ed., LICSW, (she/her) has enjoyed a 33- year career in public education as an educator, psychologist, and social worker. Margie has worked as a teacher, team chairperson and school psychologist. She founded two integrated preschool programs and has been a strong advocate for students with disabilities and their families.  Administrative positions in public schools included Principal, Director of Special Education, Director of Student Services, and Assistant Superintendent of Pupil Services. In addition, Margie has taught both undergraduate and graduate students at Endicott College, Northeast Consortium for Staff Development, and Framingham State University.

Currently, Margie is the Executive Director of Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth, an organization providing professional development and support services to more than 250 school districts and other entities in Massachusetts. As the Chief Operating Officer, she manages the programmatic and fiscal operations of this 501(c) (3) organization which provides school districts, law enforcement and selected community agencies with professional development. 

Alex Hirshberg, Psy.D., (he/him) is the founder and executive director of Hirshberg Behavioral Health Services, LLC in Hadley, Massachusetts. Dr. Hirshberg is a clinical psychologist who provides behavioral consultation, professional development, and psychological assessment services to schools across Massachusetts. He also has a small outpatient therapy practice focused on using Cognitive Behavior Therapy for individuals with anxiety and mood disorders. His interest areas include Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) in schools, trauma informed practices, and developing in-district social-emotional programs.

Michael J. Joyce (he/him) is a former public school teacher and currently an attorney with Nuttall, MacAvoy & Joyce, P.C. specializing in general education and special education law in public schools. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Joyce served as a Civil Rights Attorney for the United States Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), conducting investigations and trainings throughout New England concerning a wide range of civil rights concerns arising in public schools, including the enforcement of Section 504 and the federal statutes pertaining to harassment and discrimination based on race, color, national origin, gender and age. Before working for OCR, Mr. Joyce served as prosecuting attorney in the Gang Unit of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, conducting dozens of trials and evidentiary hearings with a specialized focus on gun violence and firearms prosecution. Mr. Joyce also served as a law clerk to the Justices of the Massachusetts Superior Court. Prior to pursuing a legal career, Mr. Joyce taught for three years in public elementary schools as a member of Teach for America during which time he was nominated for Teacher of the Year. Mr. Joyce graduated from Boston College Law School and holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from the Lynch School of Education at Boston College. From 2008-2011, Mr. Joyce taught legal research and writing at Northeastern School of Law, and, since 2011, he has served as an Adjunct Professor at the Lynch School of Education and Boston College Law School where he teaches a graduate level course on education law and policy. Mr. Joyce has conducted dozens of presentations on educational law, including presentations to local, regional and national audiences.

Paul Vieira, Ed.D., (he/him) proudly became the Superintendent of the Douglas Public Schools on July 1, 2021. Prior to his arrival in Douglas, he was an Assistant Superintendent, a High School Principal and Assistant Principal and started his career as a Spanish Teacher. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in political science and Spanish; a master’s degree in education from Suffolk University; a CAGS in Education Leadership from Bridgewater State University; and a doctorate in educational leadership from Northeastern University. Throughout the years, he has served on four NEASC visiting teams; one as the Assistant Chair, was a member of various committees at the MSSAA including the Board of Directors, was a member of the Sportsmanship Committee at the MIAA, attended and presented at NASSP MSSAA, MSAA, MASS, MASS/MASC, MASSCue, MASCD Conferences, and district based professional development days. What attracted him to Douglas, and has been confirmed time and time again, is that Douglas has caring, dedicated, and nurturing faculty and staff. A community that supports education and wants what is best for students, and students that are second to none.

Membership Information

Most MPY webinars are available ONLY to current staff from member districts and organizations. Public school memberships include police and fire personnel. Former and retired employees and members of committees, including but not limited to, PTO/PTA, PAC, School Improvement Councils, Health Councils, Drug/Alcohol Councils, and school volunteers, are not considered MPY members.

PDPs and CEUs

MPY is an approved Professional Development Provider through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (Provider No. F20180079). Professional Development Points (PDPs) are offered for most MPY professional development webinars. PDPs are issued in 10 hour increments, per DESE requirements.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for clinical staff through the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association, Inc. (MaMHCA). The NASW and the MaMHCA approve each event individually. CEUs may be given in hourly increments.

Event Cancellation Policy

If you are unable to attend a MPY webinar you must cancel, through Bonnie Mullen at bonnie@mpyinc.org, one business day before the webinar.

For MPY hybrid conferences, the date in-person registration closes will be posted on MPY’s website. Virtual conference registration will close one business day before the hybrid conference. You cannot cancel or switch your registration from in-person to virtual after in-person registration closes. Please email Bonnie Mullen at bonnie@mpyinc.org with any questions regarding registration.