Press

“The Peabody Public Schools and Peabody Federation of Teachers are deeply committed to the wellbeing, safety, and education of all students of Peabody. After a thorough review of the details related to the alleged social media policy violation, the school department and the teacher’s union are pleased to announce that they have reached an agreement that will allow the Peabody educator to return to the classroom on October 1, 2025.

“It is important that our community work together to foster greater understanding and respect opinions that differ from our own. We hope that the same things students are learning in the classroom, including how to engage in debate thoughtfully, the importance of empathy, and how to be a critical thinker, can find their way back into our public discourse.

“We look forward to continued collaboration and working together to prevent any further disruptions in our schools.”

"Freedom of speech is also a hallmark of our country. It is alarming that we're seeing a widespread increase in efforts to silence and penalize Americans for speaking on a matter of public concern in a private capacity. The First Amendment should apply to all, not the few. When an educator is put on leave, the impacts are felt in the classroom, with our students losing out on valuable instruction time. It is important that all who are targeted receive due process rights, another hallmark of our democracy and country, and we will vigorously defend their rights.    

"It is regrettable that the Peabody School District chose to disrupt their students’ education over allegations with no bearing on its schools or its learning environment.  Educators are allowed to have opinions on public concerns, just like everyone else.

"Instead of protecting that right, Peabody and other school districts have created conditions where educators and their family members are facing harassment and threats, even as many accusations have proven to be unfounded.

"The AFT Massachusetts will continue to protect the right to free speech for all educators and make sure anyone facing harassment or retaliation has their right to due process upheld."

“We condemn all forms of violence, including political violence. This year alone, there have been 47 school shootings with 19 lives lost. Right now, educators across the country are focused on providing their students a safe space to learn and grow at a time when many are living in fear. We hope that the same things we teach in the classroom - how to engage in debate thoughtfully and peacefully, the importance of empathy and critical thinking, and non-violent conflict resolution – can find their way back into our society and public discourse.

“Freedom of speech is also a hallmark of our country. It is alarming that we're seeing a widespread increase in efforts to silence and penalize Americans for speaking on a matter of public concern in a private capacity. The First Amendment should apply to all, not the few. When an educator is put on leave, the impacts are felt in the classroom, with our students losing out on valuable instruction time. It is important that all who are targeted receive due process rights, another hallmark of our democracy and country, and we will vigorously defend their rights.   

“Instead of having serious conversations about the gun violence epidemic that has gripped our nation and our schools, we’re having to address the impacts of targeted bullying and harassment - both of which have no place in the classroom or in our democracy.”

By a vote of 158-to-0, the Massachusetts House of Representatives today passed critical legislation to bring more equity and dignity to the retirement of some of the state’s longest-serving public school teachers. Filed by House Assistant Majority Leader Alice Peisch and Representative Rob Consalvo,  An Act relative to benefits for teachers would allow teachers hired before January 1, 2001 a one-time opportunity to buy into the Teachers Alternative Retirement Plan (TARP), also known as Retirement Plus, after thousands of eligible teachers were not able to successfully enroll in the program over twenty years ago.

“From teachers on maternity leave to teachers dropped from the program with no notification, the roll-out of Retirement Plus continues to impact the lives of teachers across the state nearly a quarter-century later,” said American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts President Jessica Tang. “We are grateful to Assistant Leader Peisch for her commitment to providing educators the equitable and secure retirement they deserve. We look forward to the Senate taking action this session so that this issue and the educators impacted by it can get the debate in that chamber that they deserve.”

Educators and labor leaders from 219 local unions across the state are urging members of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget conference committee to include important language regarding educator retirement options in the final version of the FY26 budget.

For decades, the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts and member locals, including the Boston Teachers Union, have helped members navigate their complex benefits systems, including the Massachusetts Teachers Alternative Retirement Plan (or Retirement Plus). Due to an ineffective and confusing roll-out by the state in 2001, thousands of teachers were unfairly shut out of this enhanced retirement system, forcing them to teach for an additional 3 to 5 years to reach their maximum retirement benefit. Unfortunately, this continues to impact thousands of teachers across the state nearly a quarter-century later.

“After years of advocacy, we are energized to see movement to fully address the issues around the original roll-out of Retirement plus, which continue to impact teachers nearly a quarter of a century later,” said AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang. “We urge the Conferees to include the language from the House budget to provide some of our state's longest-serving teachers with the equitable and secure retirement they deserve.”