TEWKSBURY, Mass. — Hundreds of Tewksbury educators held a rally outside of the High School Wednesday night in support of the hockey coach following retaliation efforts by a member of the School Committee after he voiced hazing concerns.
A high school teacher and coach, Peter Molloy, was retaliated against for fulfilling their role as a mandated ‘reporter.’ Molloy voiced concerns to school administrators about the potential hazing “tradition” among the hockey team where players received team mohawks. He specifically asked for confidentiality in his email, according to school officials.
As the Tewksbury school administration started beginning investigating the potential hazing, the Vice Chairperson, being a recipient of the privileged, private news, then posted about the investigation on Facebook, identified specific traits to the educator who reported it, and mocked the educator’s concerns.
Molloy immediately started hearing from multiple students and colleagues that everyone was talking about how he made a report, as then said, “against the hockey team,” even after requesting confidentiality.
“Tonight’s show of solidarity from Coach Molloy’s colleagues and former students is reflective of the support the Tewksbury community has in him,” said TTA President Conner Bourgoin. “We thank the Tewksbury parents, families and students that came out tonight and made it clear that any form of retaliation against an educator speaking out on behalf of a student’s welfare is unacceptable.”
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Tewksbury educators walked in solidarity with colleague Coach Malloy into the School Committee meeting Wednesday evening. There, TTA members heard the lukewarm statement from the School Committee.
“For elected school officials to publicly retaliate against our educators fulfilling their role as mandated reporters only erodes trust,” added Bourgoin. “Tewksbury educators take the role as mandated reporters – keeping the children of Tewksbury safe – seriously.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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