Hundreds Of MA Teachers Protest Attempts To Fire Falmouth Teacher

FALMOUTH, MA — Hundreds of teachers from across Cape Cod and Massachusetts gathered Tuesday outside Falmouth Public Schools District Office to protest school administrators attempts to fire the president of the Falmouth Educators' Association.

The Massachusetts Teachers Association accused Falmouth Superintendent Lori Duerr of taking disciplinary action against FEA President Lori Andrade for filing contractual grievances on behalf of teachers. According to MTA officials, Duerr placed Andrade on paid leave in April and has since signaled her intention to fire Andrade.

Duerr told the Cape Cod Times she took disciplinary action Andrade following an independent investigation. According to Duerr, the investigation found Andrade retaliated against a Falmouth school employee who filed a harassment complaint against her.

The Falmouth Educators' Association denied Andrade did anything wrong. The association and several Cape Cod and Massachusetts union officials accused Duerr of bullying her, and around 200 educators came out Tuesday to support Andrade.

"Superintendent Duerr is a liability to the Falmouth District," said Deanna Semple, the president of the Wareham Education Association. "Her actions have resulted in costly and unnecessary investigations and legal actions. That's money that should be spent on Falmouth students."

MTA President Merry Najimy also made an appearance to show support for Andrade. Najimy said teachers played a large role in keeping society going during the coronavirus pandemic, and said teachers like Andrade deserve praise.

"You have taken care of our most precious resource and that is our children," Najimy told teachers at the protest. "And for administrators to behave in this way is despicable. We are going to keep fighting, and we are going to keep winning."