Sisters and Brothers,
Of all the letters I’ve written to you, this is the most difficult.
Earlier this evening, I informed the Board of Directors that I will be stepping down as president of the Haverhill Education Association at the end of this school year to pursue an opportunity to work for the Massachusetts Teachers Association this summer, and next school year as well. While there is no guarantee that my career as an educator in Haverhill has come to close, I feel that it is in the best interest of the Association that I step down now so that a new president can be elected prior to the end of this school year and allow for a seamless transition in leadership.
As I reflect upon all we’ve accomplished together in the past several years – from winning the fight to bring Silver Hill Elementary back to the Haverhill Public Schools, defeating the Wildflower charter application, and winning the statewide “No on 2” campaign to winning the most lucrative teacher contract campaign in generations – I feel nothing but pride in the rank-and-file union we have built. I have no doubt that the structures and systems that have enabled us to grow our power and assert our right to a voice in the decisions that affect the work we do will continue into the years ahead.
HEA Secretary Deb Russell will follow up with an email regarding the timeline for a special election to determine who will be the next HEA president before the end of the school year. In the meantime, I remain as committed as ever to completing the work we set out for ourselves this year, including finalizing both the clerical and ESP contracts and winning the School Safety Specialists their first collective bargaining agreement.
I thank you all for all of the support you have shown me through all of our collective struggles, and for allowing me to represent your views as your elected president this past term. It truly has been an honor.
In Solidarity,
Anthony
Anthony J. Parolisi
President
Haverhill Education Association