Op-Ed: The Potential Long Term Impact of Teachers With No Contract

The following Op-Ed piece was sent to Patch via Amy Cardoso, of Woburn:

My name is Amy Cardoso, and I am a product of the White and Hurld Elementary Schools, as well as the Joyce Middle School and Woburn Memorial High School. I am an (almost) lifelong Woburn resident---I moved away for one year to be closer to my husband’s job, but as soon as our lease was up, we came back to Woburn where I feel I belong.

Why? I am a WMHS Class of 2004 graduate who loves our school system, community and sense of “WuTown” pride. Many teachers supported and influenced me throughout my
years, but two retirees, Randi Orpen and Dottie Elanjian, as well as two current teachers, Brendan Doherty and Ed Kaufman, are a few of the greats who immediately come to mind.

Under the tutelage of these amazing people, I grew to love education. As a current teacher, I
consider it my calling in life.

Throughout college it was a dream of mine to come home and teach in the Woburn Public Schools system. By the good grace of God, I was hired here in 2011. I am extremely grateful for and love my job as the English teacher in the Alternative Education Program at Woburn Memorial High School. However, I have to be honest---as the teachers of Woburn continue to work without a contract, I am not feeling very valued by our Mayor and the powers that be.

I feel as if I have done my part for our great city. Besides my professional career, over the
years of my life I have supported and attended community events, contributed to fundraisers and charities, as well as volunteered countless hours of my time. I do these things because I have an immense amount of pride to be from Woburn, but right now my confidence is shaken.

This ongoing situation has made me evaluate the personal sacrifices I have made in my life to be a good Woburnite in addition to helping the students of the city.

Just the other night as I was leaving my graduate class at UMass Boston, I spoke to a man who is affiliated with the Human Resources Department for Boston Public Schools. He was luring in quite a crowd of current and future educators, speaking about how Boston Public Schools shows appreciation for their employees not only through support systems and various programs, but also through their compensation package. This got me thinking (and subsequently worrying): as a teacher here, I have strong ties to this city…but not everybody else does.

I want the best and brightest people working beside me every day, and one of my fears is that teachers with extreme talent and dedication to our students will be driven to other cities and towns who show their support of and fairness to educators not only in the form of positive reinforcement and outstanding teachers awards, but financially as well.

I won’t go into specific details because I think my colleagues have done a fantastic job at
School Committee meetings and through online venues and other Letters to the Editor.

We work hard and go above and beyond our job expectations every day. We do this because we care about your children. I don’t have any children of my own yet; but when I do, I hope they will be encouraged, supported, and loved by the best---the teachers of Woburn.

I urge the School Committee, City Council, and all of the citizens of this great city to continue to support the Woburn Teachers Association’s fight for a fair contract to make sure we retain and attract the best teachers for our children, the future of Woburn---something that we all
deserve.

Amy Cardoso
29-3 Arlington Road Apt. 1

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