Form Deans

Form Deans at Berkshire oversee the well-being of an individual form, with an emphasis on issues of class leadership, communication, and academic achievement. As Form Deans spend much of their time monitoring the academic progress of students, they are responsible for academic schedules* and course changes, and work closely with the Dean of Academics, Dean of Students, and Advisors. In support of students, Form Deans also help to organize and support form bonding events and other less-formal activities throughout the year such as the Third Form Leadership Retreat, an off-campus event held each September designed to bring the freshman class together at the start of their Berkshire career.

*Department Chairs oversee course placements

FORM III (9TH)

Chris Perkins P'24, P'26, P'26

cperkins@berkshireschool.org

413-229-1266

Chris joined Berkshire in 2013 following a career in finance. In addition to his duties as Form Dean, Chris teaches Advanced Economics and oversees the Sabin Entrepreneurial Prize. A graduate of Connecticut College, Chris also serves as the head coach of the boys varsity lacrosse and squash programs at Berkshire, where he lives on campus with his wife Elizabeth and three children, Trevor, Georgia, and Rory.

FORM IV (10TH)

Amber West

awest@berkshireschool.org

413-229-1246

Amber came to Berkshire in 2016 and has served the School in several capacities, including most recently as the Day Student and Standardized Testing coordinator, in addition to leading Berkshire's Trip Advisory Committee. Amber is a graduate of Middlebury College, and upon completing her BA, she spent a year in South Korea as a Fulbright Teacher of English. Prior to Berkshire, Amber taught Chinese at McDonogh School in Maryland and Trinity-Pawling School in New York. She lives off campus with her husband, John, Berkshire's Dean of Faculty, and two children, Elle and Thayer.

FORM V (11TH)

Kathryn Barnhardt

kbarnhardt@berkshireschool.org

413-229-1264

Kathryn joined Berkshire in 2022 as a history teacher. A graduate of Mount Holyoke College and Simmons University, Kathryn has more than twenty years of teaching and administrative experience in independent schools, from Indian Mountain to Moravian Academy. In addition to serving as Form Dean and teaching history, Kathryn supports the Freestyle Ski and JV Lacrosse programs at Berkshire. She lives on campus, in Eipper, with her dogs Nelson and Pepper.

FORM VI (12TH)

Mike McCabe

mmccabe@berkshireschool.org

413-229-1255

Mike joined the Berkshire faculty in 2013 as a Latin teacher following a successful football career at College of the Holy Cross and a brief stint with the NFL's Green Bay Packers. In addition to teaching all levels of Latin, Mike serves as a coach with the football and track and field teams. He lives in Godman Dorm with his wife Becky and their son, John.