BOSTON — Hundreds of educators rallied in Brookline Monday to fight for their jobs back.
As more and more teachers receive pink slips, teachers unions are also worried that educators of color are disproportionately impacted by these layoffs.
“For me, this was my dream job and to be let go after feeling like you had really made it was really disheartening,” said Kumi Wauthier, an occupational therapist for early education in Brookline. “I had higher expectations from the town.”
Wauthier is one of hundreds of teachers who have been laid off in Brookline because of budget cuts.
More than 300 teachers received pink slips a couple weeks ago.
“A lot of educators are now wondering if Brookline is the place they want to teach if this is how they’re going to be treated, if they’re going to be treated as if they’re disposable and expendable,” said Josephine Bouquet, a 4th grade teacher in Brookline.
Now other school districts across the state are seeing similar layoffs.
That’s why several teachers unions came together for a “Care-a-van” parade across Brookline Monday to push for better funding to retain teachers. More than 100 cars full of educators with signs drove from Larz Anderson Park to Brookline High School to spread their message.
Then hundreds gathered outside Brookline High for a rally, not only for job security, but also to push for more educators of color.
“This representation is invaluable to all the students we teach, especially students of color,” said Bouquet. “As somebody who didn’t grow up with a lot of teachers who look like me and being able to be that person for students, it makes a huge difference.”
“That’s such a huge, huge impact for students who want to see themselves reflected in the people who are the leadership in their classrooms and their school community,” said Wauthier.
Wauthier says many teachers are now getting recalled for their jobs back in Brookline, but now she questions whether many teachers will want to keep working for this district.
“All of the unnecessary anxiety, all of the unnecessary fear and tension that has spread across the entire city, I think they overlooked the impact on the entire community,” said Wauthier.