MCLA Alumna Annie Pecor Honored with Massachusetts State Universities Educator Alumni Award at State House Ceremony on April 29
April 22, 2026
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) alumna Annie Pecor, Assistant Superintendent
of North Adams Public Schools, has been selected to receive the Massachusetts State
Universities Educator Alumni Award. Pecor will be honored at the ceremony on Wednesday,
April 29, 2026, from noon to 2 p.m. in the Great Hall at the Massachusetts State House,
alongside eight other educators from across the state's public university system.
The award, presented by the Massachusetts State Universities Council of Presidents,
recognizes graduates of Massachusetts State Universities who have made outstanding
contributions to the field of education.
"Annie's accomplishments are a testament to the transformative power of a Massachusetts
State University education. We are incredibly proud of her dedication to students
and communities across the Berkshires, and it is a privilege to see her recognized
on a statewide stage,” said James F. Birge, President, MCLA.
A Berkshire County educator for more than 15 years, Pecor began her career as a middle
school English Language Arts teacher before rising through the ranks of educational
leadership. This year, she was recognized by the MCLA Alumni Association with the
Outstanding Educator Award. She earned both a master's degree in education and a Certificate
of Advanced Graduate Study from MCLA, and is a proud graduate of the MCLA Leadership
Academy. She also holds a bachelor's degree from Siena College and earned her doctorate
in education from the University of New England in 2024.
Throughout her career, Pecor has demonstrated a consistent commitment to student success
and community-centered leadership. As a North Adams middle school teacher, she launched
a peer mentoring program and a 7th grade student council to cultivate student leadership.
She later served as vice principal and then principal of Craneville Elementary School
in Dalton, where she championed restorative practices, reduced behavior referrals,
and guided the school community through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Most recently, as Director of Northern Berkshire Adult Education and 21st Century
Programming, Pecor led the program to exceed enrollment targets, launched a thriving
English Speakers of Other Languages program, added tutoring services, secured local
transportation funding, and forged a partnership with McCann Technical High School
for an adult Culinary Arts program. Under her leadership, the program achieved a Proficient
rating from the Massachusetts Department of Education.
Beyond her professional work, Pecor volunteers as vice chair of the Berkshire Leadership
Program and serves on the boards of Berkshire County Suicide Prevention, the Berkshire
Food Project, and the Northern Berkshire United Way.
About MCLA
At MCLA, we're here for all — and focused on each — of our students. Classes are taught
by educators who care deeply about teaching, and about seeing their students thrive
on every level of their lives. In every way possible, the experience at MCLA is designed
to elevate our students as individuals, leaders, and communicators, fully empowered
to make their impressions on the world. In addition to our 130-year commitment to
public education, we have fortified our dedication to equitable academic excellence.
MCLA has appeared on U.S. News & World Report's list of Top Ten Public Colleges for
11 consecutive years, earning the No. 6 spot on the list of Top Public Liberal Arts
Schools in the nation for 2026. The College's focus on affordable education and economic
prosperity is reflected in additional 2026 U.S. News rankings: No. 6 for Top Performer
on Social Mobility for liberal arts colleges in the state and No. 4 for Top Performer
on Social Mobility for public liberal arts colleges in the country. These rankings
measure how well schools graduate students who receive Federal Pell Grants.