East Greenwich Teachers vote no confidence in administration as frustrations mount

The East Greenwich Education Association (EGEA) has overwhelmingly voted no confidence in Superintendent Brian Ricca and Assistant Superintendent Sarah Courtemanche-O'Brien. The vote took place at a packed union meeting Wednesday night where educators voiced deep frustration over the administration’s lack of leadership and support. 

“Educators in East Greenwich took this vote because, throughout this administration’s tenure, our concerns about what is best for our schools, classrooms, and, ultimately, our students have been ignored,” said EGEA Vice President Terri Garno. “The lack of collaboration and communication shows us that district leadership is either uninterested or unaware of the realities in our schools.”

Teachers across the district are frustrated by unilateral decisions, a lack of transparency, and conflicting messages from leadership, all of which have contributed to burnout and low morale. 

“We are committed to student success, but we feel ignored and dismissed,” said EGEA President Donna McPhee. “It is demoralizing to receive policies and directives from an absent leadership team that disregards our professional input – leaders who don’t know our names, what we teach, or the history of our schools.” 

Despite these challenges, East Greenwich educators remain dedicated to their students.

“With a per-pupil spending ranked in the bottom ten in Rhode Island and teacher pay in the bottom third, we are here because we love our work – not because we feel valued,” McPhee continued.  “We want district leadership’s actions to reflect a real investment in a positive school environment and a commitment to excellence – something our students and community deserve.”

The East Greenwich School Committee meets on February 25, and EGEA members look forward to sharing their concerns during public comment.

About NEARI

The National Education Association Rhode Island (NEARI) is a union and professional organization with a proud history of serving Rhode Island since 1845. NEARI is 12,000 members strong, we are classroom teachers; education support professionals; higher education faculty, staff, and graduate assistants; municipal and state workers; and retirees. We are affiliated with the National Education Association (NEA) and RI AFL-CIO. Learn more at www.neari.org.