Tewksbury Teachers Rally In Support Of Colleague Who Reported Hazing

TEWKSBURY, MA — Over 100 members of the Tewksbury Teachers Association (TTA) held a rally Wednesday evening in support of colleague Peter Molloy at the School Committee meeting at Tewksbury Memorial High School.

The TTA said Molloy was a victim of retaliation by members of the School Committee after Molloy expressed concerns about hazing within the TMHS boys hockey program.

Molloy, a teacher and former boys and girls cross-country head coach at TMHS, said he had requested confidentiality when expressing his concerns to TMHS administrators. However, Molloy said it later became apparent that hockey players, parents and coaches found out he was behind the allegations.

Molloy said he blamed members of the School Committee for exposing him as the whistleblower, and said he became aware that two members of the committee even posted about on the issue on Facebook.

That's why members of the TTA, and other members of the school community, rallied outside of TMHS before Wednesday's School Committee meeting. The group then walked in solidarity with Molloy into the meeting.

"Tonight's show of solidarity from Coach Molloy's colleagues and former students is reflective of the support the Tewksbury community has in him," TTA President Conner Bourgoin said. "We thank the Tewksbury parents, families and students that came out tonight and made it clear that any form of retaliation against an educator speaking out on behalf of a student's welfare is unacceptable."

Bourgoin continued: "For elected school officials to publicly retaliate against our educators fulfilling their role as mandated reporters only erodes trust. Tewksbury educators take the role as mandated reporters — keeping the children of Tewksbury safe — seriously."

In a letter to TTA membership — that was released publicly by the TTA — Molloy said that on Dec. 14 of last year, he emailed the TMHS school administration over concerns that the boys hockey tradition of team mohawks might be considered hazing according to the standards set by National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the national governing body of high school sports, and Massachusetts state law.

Molloy said he asked the administration for confidentiality.

However, Molloy said that on Dec. 19, colleagues informed him that the hockey players, their families, the coaches and the general student body knew that he sent an email regarding hazing.

Molloy said it also was brought to his attention that two members of the School Committee, Keith Sullivan, the vice chair, and Rich Russo, were posting about the issue on Facebook.

"It is clear that my original report had to go up the chain of command, and the five School Committee members were informed of the investigation," Molloy wrote in his letter to the TTA."While I can understand that being a necessary step, taking a confidential email sent to those who were elected to be trustworthy members of a public school system and putting it on social media is extremely uncalled for, damaging, and egregious."

Patch contacted multiple members of the school School Committee about the incident, but has not received a response.

Molloy said that on Dec. 22, the TMHS administration sent him a letter informing him that their investigation was finished and no evidence of hazing was found.

Molloy said the letter concluded by stating: "Finally, we note that any act of retaliation against a reporting party such as yourself is prohibited. Accordingly, if you should become subject to any such acts based on your complaint we ask that you please let us know so that we may investigate and take appropriate action."

Molloy said he disagreed with the findings of the investigation, but respected the "due diligence, sincerity, support of the TMHS administration and the finality of their investigation."

In his letter to the TTA, Molloy said he remained troubled by the actions of the School Committee members whom he said revealed that he had written the letter.

"Their behavior is an act of retaliation and workplace harassment against my reporting, an example of cyberbullying and intimidation and clear disregard for whistleblower protections," Molloy wrote. "Quite frankly their responses are prime evidence that my concerns over problematic culture that borders on hazing were, and remain, prudent. If this is the nature of reporting, one can see why zero students or parents have ever or would ever report having experienced hazing."

Molloy added: "On a personal level, I am beyond heartbroken that those in charge of running a school district would overtly disparage and smear the character of a mandated reporter, doing what they believe is in the best interest of the mental, emotional, and physical health of students. By Massachusetts Law Chapter 119, Section 51A, we are all mandated to report any suspicion of harm to children, so it upsets me deeply that I have been tarnished by elected officials for simply following the law."