By Julie Mahoney, Samantha Sun, Saarvi Deshwal, Maddox To, Isabella Yan, & Tommy Kruecker-Green
COPY EDITOR AND STAFF WRITERS

Teachers and instructional assistants (IA) are more than thrilled to be back in school after the five-day strike in November.

Every day from the 10th to the 14th, educators from all of APS stood on the picket line and showed their solidarity. Now that they are back in school, they have some thoughts on the way it all went down.

While there is full support for these new changes, there are a few conditions some educators wished would have been included. History teacher Lauren Ream said, “I wish there was more flexibility [and] understanding that teachers sometimes need to leave early and that things happen.” As a longtime educator, Ream has seen the Andover community adapt over time and believes that these changes are especially beneficial for younger teachers. “I’m at the end of my career, my kids are all grown, so I know what it was like,” Ream noted. 

With the new contract, IAs acquired a more sufficient living wage, which garnered a lot of positive responses. “I am happy…especially [with] the increase for instructional assistants who have never in my tenure been paid properly,” said Abby Levin, a social worker. “They work with some of our most challenging students.” The new contract provides IA’s and teachers alike with a greater sense of stability. Levin also shared how satisfied she is with the new additions to the contract, such as the inclusion of more recess and lunchtime for elementary students. 

“I felt an incredible solidarity on the picket line, and my sign had a stick holding it up so I could hold it high,” Levin said proudly. Despite the chilly weather, with the help of donuts, coffee, and music, teachers continued to stand for what they believed in alongside many from the community. Betsey Desfosse, a health teacher, said that it was the coolest thing she had been involved in. “It was exhausting, but dare I say fun. I haven’t felt that alive and passionate about something in a long time,” said Desfosse. 

Lindsey L’Ecuyer, a biology teacher found it “empowering to feel the support of the community.” L’Ecuyer explained that a more competitive contract would allow for the best faculty for students. “​​We best support ALL of our students when we are able to recruit the staff they deserve.” 

“Though I felt the camaraderie of my colleagues on the picket line and was touched by community and student support, I and all others I spoke to wanted to return to the classroom as quickly as possible,” said Erin Cherry, a history teacher. “The classroom is where we all feel at home.” With all the protests, getting back to the classroom was their number one goal. 

Although the strike was a long and difficult process for the teachers, it was rewarding in the end. Ruth Masters, a history teacher, was among the few educators who had initially voted against the strike. “I didn’t think we had community support,” she said. It was a surprise to her to discover the support Andover families had for teachers.