Northshore Educators Kick-Off District Negotiations, Calling for stronger collaboration to support and protect the region’s most vulnerable students (April 10, 2025).
Educators at Northshore Education Consortium’s Kevin O’Grady School pose for a photo during their walk-in yesterday morning
Educators across the Northshore Education Consortium (NEC) held unity events at all six schools yesterday to highlight their commitment to their students and their efforts to create a more collaborative decision-making process between stakeholders to ensure a brighter future for students, families, and their dedicated teachers and paraprofessionals.
The day marked the beginning of negotiations between the Northshore Education Consortium Employees Federation (NECEF) Local 4293 with NEC’s Board of Directors to secure a new collective bargaining agreement for the nearly 300 teachers and instructional aides they represent. At each school, educators came together in solidarity, speaking to the needs of their students as a strong motivating factor during these upcoming negotiations. NECEF educators work with the region’s most vulnerable students and remain dedicated to ensuring their right to a free and equal education is protected.
"There is no question that the challenges facing our schools and public education in general will disproportionately impact the most vulnerable students and those with the highest needs -- and those are the students we serve,” said NECEF President and Recovery High School teacher Jake Zeigler. “Across all six schools, our educators work to ensure these students have access to the services and support they need to achieve social and educational success. We are all dedicated to safeguarding the rights and needs of our students and remain steadfast in our commitment to making sure the voices and concerns of our students, their families, and our educators are heard and prioritized in the decision making process."
Walk-ins were held at the Kevin O’Grady School, the Northshore Academy Upper School, the Northshore Academy Lower School, and the SOAR/EMBARK Programs, while educators at Recovery High School and Topsfield Vocational Academy held afternoon rallies.
With six separate schools serving nearly 500 students, the NEC is the largest provider of special education programs for children with emotional, behavioral, and developmental disabilities on the North Shore. Sending districts include: Beverly, Danvers, Gloucester, Hamilton-Wenham, Ipswich, Lynn, Lynnfield, Manchester/Essex, Marblehead, Masconomet Regional, Nahant, North Reading, Peabody, Pentucket Regional, Reading, Rockport, Salem, Swampscott, Tri-Town School Union, and Triton Regional.
"Each and every day, our paraprofessionals go above and beyond for their students, but most of us don't make a living wage. We're forced to choose between a job we love where we can support students in need and making ends meet. Paras shouldn't be forced to work multiple jobs just to put food on the table,” said Ketty Thebaud, Vice President of the NEC Paraprofessionals and an Instructional Assistant at the Kevin O’Grady School. “We truly care for these kids and are invested in providing them the support to reach their full potential. We wouldn't want it any other way. We hope that, moving forward, we will be seen and recognized for our value and provided with a living wage and benefits that accurately reflect the role we play in the success of our students."
Many NEC educators are currently paid below a living wage. The collective bargaining agreements covering NECEF members are slated to expire on August 31, 2025.