Parents Discuss Low Teacher Morale at Fair Haven School Board Meeting

More than 20 parents and teachers attended the Board of Education meeting Wednesday night in the Knollwood Media Center to question Superintendent Nelson Ribon on how he is choosing to handle reportedly low teacher morale at Sickles and Knollwood Schools. 

Although there were several other members of the public at the meeting to witness and support the induction of new Sickles School Principal Cheryl Cuddihy, the audience and public session of the board meeting was dominated by the large group who had gathered that evening to speak on behalf of teachers they had interviewed.

Parent Stacey Strandberg told the Board and Ribon that the teachers did not feel comfortable approaching the administration themselves to discuss the issue of low morale, and so the parents had conducted an “informal survey” of the teachers, and another parent in the audience, Brian Rice, read a selection of their statements to Ribon and the other members of the board.

Rice quoted, "'It used to be that when you would see an administrator coming down the halls, you would get the feeling that they were there to support you in some way- share a thoughtful comment or gesture, or to address a concern regarding a student. There was a mutual trust and respect, and you felt like part of a team with the best interest of the school and its students in mind,'" Rice read.

The anonymous teachers were also quoted to have expressed concern with how a few staff members had already left, declined to extend their contracts, or were in the process of interviewing for positions in other districts due to low teacher morale, and “the toxic environment currently at our schools.”

The issue was first brought to the attention to Ribon during the Board of Education meeting last month, when parents expressed concern for declining morale among staff members. Ribon had reassured the teachers and parents in attendance that evening that he would work on the issue, and report back in the June meeting.

On Wednesday night, PTA member Suzanne Duffy revisited the topic by asking the superintendent if he could explain what actions he had taken since the last meeting to “boost teacher morale.”

Ribon explained: “I don’t have a one through ten step process. I define success with morale amongst colleagues as consisting of getting to know them and listening to them or finding out what concerns they have, even if it’s something as simple as they don’t have enough supplies or resources.

The fact is that [teachers] are looking for someone to listen to them, and I am here to understand them.”

However, Ribon admitted that his presence at Knollwood School had been measurably less then his time spent at Sickles School due to the need for his presence in the process of hiring new principal Cheryl Cuddihy. He also said that in general, the district is often busy during the month of June with the closing of the school year as well as graduations, and therefore, less time had been spent then he would have liked “having meaningful conversations with the staff, and that is something I am continuing to work on and change, not just in September but throughout the summer also."

Ribon then took a moment to draw attention to positive steps that had been taken for teacher morale by pointing out the level of success in the district’s teacher placement.

“The fact that nearly every teacher was assigned or placed where they felt their best strengths were was a huge action on our end as a team,” Ribon said, commending the Board of Education’s efforts. “Although teacher placement has not been discussed since last meeting, I still would like to take the time to hear what each teacher has to say and how they feel.”      

Ribon continued, "The most important part of this process is building relationships. As I said before, my goal is not a list of things to be checked off and say I’m done. It’s about continuing to build these relationships.”

Board Member Tracy Rehder then addressed the public by praising the fact that the teachers had been involved and also considered by the Board of Education to have been an immense help with the principal selection. She also added that the teachers and the Board of Education alike were excited to move forward and work together with Principal Cuddihy, a statement that was met with applause from around the room.

Cuddihy also addressed the public directly. “I hear all of your concerns,” she said to the parents. “I hope to create a database and also send out surveys to parents and teachers like I have previously done at other schools where we can all pool resources and ideas to be the most productive in our interactions together.”

Ribon brought the public comment session to a close by promising to begin electronic communication between parents, teachers and the board by September, after a member of the audience, wishing to remain anonymous, pointed out that the electronic newsletters and "action-plans" had been stopped in 2010. He then stated in closing that he held firm to his belief that continuing to take time to meet with teachers and speak to them individually and personal would be best the course of action for teacher morale within the schools.

“I know them all already, but there is a lot more I need to know, and a lot of things I need to hear from each and every one of them.”