Northampton School Superintendent Bonner to lead educational collaborative in city

NORTHAMPTON — Outgoing schools Superintendent Portia Bonner will be staying in the city, starting a new role as executive director of the Collaborative for Educational Services starting July 1.

Bonner, whose tenure with the city schools started in 2023, was named to the position by the board of directors at the collaborative on Thursday.

“It is a privilege and honor to step into this role and partner with such a talented team,” Bonner said in a statement. “I am eager to begin work with the current staff, programs and the member districts, building on our collective strengths as we turn the page toward an inspiring new chapter together.”

Bonner’s more than 30 years of experience in public education includes being interim superintendent for the school district in Bozrah, Connecticut, as well as being a high school teacher, college instructor, school principal, head of curriculum and superintendent in multiple school districts across both Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Last June, Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra announced Bonner’s planned departure at the end of the 2025-26 school year. That announcement came in the midst of continued concerns about reduced school spending and staff cuts, and a year after the Northampton Association of School Employees union issued a vote of no confidence in Bonner, though the School Committee reaffirmed its support for her.

The Collaborative for Educational Services is a public nonprofit agency that offers direct and support services to its 37 member school districts, and to various state and district-level clients in Massachusetts and around New England. These services include direct services for children and youth, particularly those at risk; professional development and training for educators and professionals; and coaching, training evaluation and technical assistance for districts, schools, and community organizations.

Since last July, the collaborative has been overseen on an interim basis by Karen Reuter, who is returning to her role as deputy director. Reuter was named to the position when Todd H. Gazda stepped down after four years as executive director to become interim principal at Chester Elementary School.

The executive director search committee made its selection after a nationwide search and a thorough review of over 40 applicants, with assistance from John Bass, senior adviser to the Association of Educational Services Agencies.

Cathy Englehardt, who chairs the board of directors, praised Bonner.

“Dr. Bonner is passionate about student growth and readiness, bringing 30 years of experience from geographically and culturally diverse types of school districts,” Englehardt said. “She has expertise in applying core curricular standards to instruction, building community partnerships, financial planning and accountability, and a strong commitment to equity and diversity.”

Englehardt also thanked the search committee members, made up of board members and CES staff, for their work over the course of the past months, and Reuter for being a consistent and stabilizing voice of leadership.

Bonner also has served as an independent consultant assisting school districts in the evaluation of academic programs, including the consultation for writing science curriculum for grades K-12, and coaching district leaders in evaluating staff and curricular programs.

She received her doctor of philosophy degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Connecticut, a master of science degree in biology from Purdue University, and her undergraduate degree in biology and sociology from Skidmore College.

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