Providence City Council President Miller requests an explanation for teacher non-renewals from Infante-Green and Montañez
"I am requesting an immediate review of these non-renewals [and a] a clear explanation of the rationale behind them..."
Providence City Council President Rachel Miller (Ward 13) sent a letter yesterday to Providence Superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez and Rhode Island Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Angélica Infante-Green seeking information on the non-renewal notices given to three Providence teachers, Brandi Tucker, Em Schluter, and Sam Wallace.
As reported yesterday, the three teachers have two things in common besides the non-renewal notices: They are all members of the Providence Caucus of Rank and File Educators (PVD CORE) and non-binary. They use they/them pronouns.
The letter from Council President Miller notes the impacts of these non-renewals on the three teachers and students. She wrote:
“The removal of dedicated, high-performing educators is disruptive to students and undermines the stability they need to succeed. Further, these latest non-renewals are certain to cause additional distress to LGBTQ+ students, who are already experiencing deep anxiety due to institutional discrimination by the federal government and who clearly benefit from LGBTQ+ role models in their schools.”
Here’s the letter in full:
I’m writing to you with significant concern regarding this morning’s reporting that three non-binary Providence Public School teachers, Brandi Tucker, Em Schluter, and Sam Wallace, were issued notices of non-renewal. In the hours since this was reported publicly, we have heard considerable unease regarding these non-renewals, especially from members of the LGBTQ+ community.
All three of these teachers are part of an organizing collective called Providence Caucus of Rank and File Educators, or PVD CORE, a caucus of the Providence Teachers Union. In light of the current federal administration’s antipathy and antagonism toward both LGBTQ+ protections and labor organizing, seeing queer and transgender union organizers pulled out of their classrooms and delivered notices with seemingly little explanation is sure to raise alarm. This concern is heightened by the severity of this form of dismissal. Non-renewals in Providence are significant and career-altering, even in comparison to other municipalities. Not only do these teachers lose their jobs, but they are also now ineligible for other positions anywhere in the district.
In the publicly reported interview, the teachers claimed that their non-renewals are part of a larger pattern of targeting union organizers. “Every time a member of PVD CORE speaks at the school board, we get pulled into the principal’s office for something unrelated, asked not to show up at the school board, or get written up for something completely random,” they wrote. This is extremely troubling, particularly given PPSD’s ongoing challenges with teacher recruitment and retention.
In December, I attended a listening session with PPSD students hosted by OurSchoolsPVD. In that session, students clearly named non-renewals as a significant concern. Many listed the dismissal of teachers they connected with most as among the top issues affecting their school experience. The removal of dedicated, high-performing educators is disruptive to students and undermines the stability they need to succeed. Further, these latest non-renewals are certain to cause additional distress to LGBTQ+ students, who are already experiencing deep anxiety due to institutional discrimination by the federal government and who clearly benefit from LGBTQ+ role models in their schools.
It is understandable that this has already caused significant anxiety in the Providence community. The teachers themselves, their students, and their colleagues, deserve an explanation. LGBTQ+ teachers should not have to question whether management has their back. Union members should have confidence that their jobs will not be put at risk if they organize for better working conditions. The public needs assurances that employment decisions in our schools are being made fairly and in the best interest of students.
Given that the Providence Public School District is under state control, ultimate responsibility for these decisions rests with your offices. I am requesting an immediate review of these non-renewals, a clear explanation of the rationale behind them, and a public commitment that no teacher will face retaliation for their gender identity or their role in labor organizing. This is necessary in order for us to adequately assure our constituents that teachers in the state-run district have the protections they need and deserve.
I look forward to your prompt response.
At Thursday’s Providence City Council meeting, Council President Miller introduced a resolution, at the Smiley Administration’s request, supporting Rhode Island House Bill H-5335. This bill would return the Providence Public School District to local control in July of this year. The resolution was referred to the Special Committee on Health, Opportunity, Prosperity, and Education.
This resolution and the reporting about the three teachers facing non-renewals prompted City Councilmember Miguel Sanchez to address the Council on a point of privilege. You can watch him speak here:
Here are Councilmember Sanchez’s words, edited for clarity:
"I want to bring attention to and spotlight a very concerning article published this morning. If no one has seen it, I am referring to Steve Ahlquist's reporting regarding some teachers in our Providence Public School District who received notices of non-renewal. These three teachers identify as non-binary, so there is serious concern about potential targeting and discrimination against these teachers.
"I want to make it very clear, and I'm sure I have a lot of colleagues on the City Council that share my stance, that here in the City of Providence, we welcome, include, support, and uplift everyone. There are going to be other conversations around this issue in the next couple of weeks. I encourage us all to stay on top of it and offer our support in solidarity as much as possible."
On February 26, PVD CORE will be in front of the Providence School Board to push the school board to:
Reaffirm their support and expand resources for trans and non-binary students and staff, as well as immigrant and undocumented students and families, in the face of harmful executive orders and pressure from the federal government, and
Pressure the administration to rescind the recent non-renewals of several beloved educators who have lost their positions in PPSD.
It seems like the Administration of the schools, city and state, are removing high performing teachers who are being active members of the community, in other words they are high performing human beings. Among the stupidest administration tricks I have ever heard of. Excuse me, do we want our teachers to model good behavior, being responsible community members, or do we not? Do we want to demonstrate that a society that wants to thrive has to let everyone be their best self or do we want to model a narrow minded mediocrity and obedience? Sounds liks the kids have figured out that the admnsitration wants to model mediocrity, so they rightly fear for their ediucations. and their futures. Real human beings would encourage everyone and be proud of the teachers that kids find help them most. Montanez is a puppet, Infante Green is clueless, and Governor McKee a coward.