We support Julie and Family
Donation protected
So many things in life are out of our control and I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. That said, often times these circumstances can really test our fate and leave us asking, “why me?” It’s these times that reveal the love and support we have for our community, family and friends.
Just a week prior to the school year, Julie Dubreuil received an unexpected and stunning email from Principal Marisa Medonsa that stated she was being terminated, effective immediately. Julie taught for 17 years and was a model teacher, community member, coach and mentor to so many. She has 3 wonderful boys and a loving husband but is now unemployed. Julie had an unblemished record during her teaching tenure and is loved and respected by all who know her.
Now, the family is faced with the harsh reality of trying to maintain their family farm and mortgage as well as provide for their kids along with many other expenses. On top of all of these expenses, they are forced to fight for what is right and the need to hire legal representation has been a necessary step.
Many of our community members have reached out to find out what they can do to help. Please take a moment to reflect on how you’d feel being forced into a situation that you never saw coming or deserved. We need to recognize the unexpected and dire situation the Dubreuil family is now faced with and how they will continue to move forward while fighting for what we all know is right.
I am asking for your support for a family that was born and raised in our community. A family that has decided to proudly raise their family locally, be an active part of our community coaching numerous sports teams and giving back week after week and year after year. This is what our community stands for and needs to be celebrated!
* For those faculty members fearing repercussions for showing support for Julie, understand that your donations can be made anonymously.
For more details regarding this unfortunate situation, see below:
PLEASE READ THIS IN IT’S ENTIRETY:
VERY IMPORTANT!
Facebook post on August 21st, 2019
Good morning friends,
I’m not sure how many of you are aware of this but Julie Dubreuil was terminated yesterday (9/20/19) from her job at the Mohawk Trail Regional High School. This is a position Julie has held for 17 years and been very successful not only in the education of our children but fostering a loving and caring environment for our kids to flourish in. Julie has been a staple in our community helping coach various sports teams and most recently participated in the annual Bridge dinner to help raise funds for our sports programs at Mohawk. Julie has been a model for all of us to follow because she cares, yet now is unemployed. This, after years of her dedicated commitment to our school system, sports programs and community with no pattern of poor performance. Terminated by an e-mail…let that sink in.
Julie was terminated by an e-mail that was sent to her by our newly appointed Principal Marisa Mendonsa. This e-mail was sent after Julie had spent the entire day at school along with several other faculty members AND Marisa Mendonsa preparing for the 2019/20 school year. I must assume that Marisa knew full well that she was prepared to terminate Julie but instead of speaking with her directly (one on one) she sent her an e-mail the following day. In the e-mail it stated that Julie was not certified to teach due to not passing her SEI MTEL test. Julie was in the process of signing up/attending a course to gain her certification. She assumed she would be granted a waiver which has been granted to so many others in the past including at least two other acting teachers in the school district. To my knowledge, there are at least two members of the Mohawk school district that do not have proper certification currently to perform their job assignment but are being offered time to gain such certification.
Asst. Principal Diane Zamer – Diane was an elementary school teacher at JFK MS in Florence MA and hired as an Asst. Principal for our Mohawk Regional School District. This will be Mrs. Zamers first administrative job and currently does not have the qualifications to be a Vice Principal but am told she has been given time to acquire certification/passing grade to continue within her newly hired role. I am also aware that at least one member of our community that was already highly qualified for this role (Alumni of Mohawk Trail Regional School with a Master’s Degree) applied for this same position but didn’t even get a call for an interview?
New 7th Grade STEM Teacher: May not be currently certified to teach this class.
Let it be known that I have not met either of these individuals and I have no reason to believe that they don’t have the best interest of our school system and students in mind. This is only an attempt to show how the standards in our current school system are not being applied for everyone the same way.
Back story and the most alarming part of this e-mail:
In recent months, many parents and students have made it their mission to have Boys Varsity Soccer reinstated because there was a decision made several months ago to cancel the season. This decision was made without consulting with any parents or students and there was no real reason given for the abrupt decision. Many of us banded together (including Julie Dubreuil) to request a meeting to discuss these changes with the hope to gain a better understanding of the decision that was going to adversely impact our students and school. After three unsuccessful meetings and added confusion, Mr. Michael Buoniconti (Superintendent) came to the meeting as requested so we as parents could feel like someone was actually listening to us. During this meeting, many of us spoke up to express how poorly this situation had been handled during the previous three meetings and asked for better transparency, consistency and standards across all sports. There were absolutely no standards being applied which is why we continued to debate the decision. Thankfully, within 30 minutes of this 4th and final meeting, our soccer program was reinstated by Mr. Buoniconti, a coaching position was posted and we were back in the league! Immediately following the meeting, Marisa Mendonsa left the space visibly angry while our AD and Superintendent remained present for added questions which gave many of us the ability to thank them for actually listening. Julie was a huge support and driver of getting these meetings established but admittedly very careful on her active approach during these meetings for fear of repercussions she would see from her immediate superior Ms. Marisa Mendonsa. There are so many other layers to this but in the essence of time I wanted to keep this as quick and clear as possible so others could understand what is really happening with our administration and the decision that was made to term Julie. Julie’s fears came true yesterday and after 17 years teaching and being a valued member of our community she was terminated. Just like many of the decision I spoke about earlier in this e-mail, this makes no sense and is quite frankly very alarming based on what I know to be fact.
Bigger picture:
I have had a number of conversations with current faculty members that all are working out of fear based on many of the internal decisions that are being made. The environment they work in is no longer a shared collaboration and decisions are being made that are adversely impacting our students, faculty and our entire community. The decision to terminated Julie Dubreuil has only added to the layers of this dire situation that we are all in right now. These issues are real and will quickly impact our school system and community short/long term if not addressed by more than a select few. Also understand that without the parents and community speaking up, the district will continue down this path because the faculty will not be able to force anyone’s hand especially now that they see how quickly a highly qualified teacher can be terminated for standing up for what we all believe was right. Anyone that believes that Julie was termed simply based on her not passing a 2nd English level test (and not gaining waiver approval like so many others) is ill informed at best. I have a voice because I am not employed by the Mohawk Trail Regional School District but do wonder how I will be perceived by some after these communications begin to grow. That said, I will always stand behind what I believe is right and am hoping the support of many will far outweigh any other repercussions I may face in the process.
Julie deserves for all of us to band together to do everything in our power to reverse this decision and to make a difference for our community, youth and faculty today and for the future. We need to make sure that others do not share the same fate as Julie did for not “falling in line” with the direction of the current administration. There needs to be a fair and consistent approach for all and that is absolutely not happening currently.
Thank you in advance for your support of Julie and our school district,
Wade Bassett
Just a week prior to the school year, Julie Dubreuil received an unexpected and stunning email from Principal Marisa Medonsa that stated she was being terminated, effective immediately. Julie taught for 17 years and was a model teacher, community member, coach and mentor to so many. She has 3 wonderful boys and a loving husband but is now unemployed. Julie had an unblemished record during her teaching tenure and is loved and respected by all who know her.
Now, the family is faced with the harsh reality of trying to maintain their family farm and mortgage as well as provide for their kids along with many other expenses. On top of all of these expenses, they are forced to fight for what is right and the need to hire legal representation has been a necessary step.
Many of our community members have reached out to find out what they can do to help. Please take a moment to reflect on how you’d feel being forced into a situation that you never saw coming or deserved. We need to recognize the unexpected and dire situation the Dubreuil family is now faced with and how they will continue to move forward while fighting for what we all know is right.
I am asking for your support for a family that was born and raised in our community. A family that has decided to proudly raise their family locally, be an active part of our community coaching numerous sports teams and giving back week after week and year after year. This is what our community stands for and needs to be celebrated!
* For those faculty members fearing repercussions for showing support for Julie, understand that your donations can be made anonymously.
For more details regarding this unfortunate situation, see below:
PLEASE READ THIS IN IT’S ENTIRETY:
VERY IMPORTANT!
Facebook post on August 21st, 2019
Good morning friends,
I’m not sure how many of you are aware of this but Julie Dubreuil was terminated yesterday (9/20/19) from her job at the Mohawk Trail Regional High School. This is a position Julie has held for 17 years and been very successful not only in the education of our children but fostering a loving and caring environment for our kids to flourish in. Julie has been a staple in our community helping coach various sports teams and most recently participated in the annual Bridge dinner to help raise funds for our sports programs at Mohawk. Julie has been a model for all of us to follow because she cares, yet now is unemployed. This, after years of her dedicated commitment to our school system, sports programs and community with no pattern of poor performance. Terminated by an e-mail…let that sink in.
Julie was terminated by an e-mail that was sent to her by our newly appointed Principal Marisa Mendonsa. This e-mail was sent after Julie had spent the entire day at school along with several other faculty members AND Marisa Mendonsa preparing for the 2019/20 school year. I must assume that Marisa knew full well that she was prepared to terminate Julie but instead of speaking with her directly (one on one) she sent her an e-mail the following day. In the e-mail it stated that Julie was not certified to teach due to not passing her SEI MTEL test. Julie was in the process of signing up/attending a course to gain her certification. She assumed she would be granted a waiver which has been granted to so many others in the past including at least two other acting teachers in the school district. To my knowledge, there are at least two members of the Mohawk school district that do not have proper certification currently to perform their job assignment but are being offered time to gain such certification.
Asst. Principal Diane Zamer – Diane was an elementary school teacher at JFK MS in Florence MA and hired as an Asst. Principal for our Mohawk Regional School District. This will be Mrs. Zamers first administrative job and currently does not have the qualifications to be a Vice Principal but am told she has been given time to acquire certification/passing grade to continue within her newly hired role. I am also aware that at least one member of our community that was already highly qualified for this role (Alumni of Mohawk Trail Regional School with a Master’s Degree) applied for this same position but didn’t even get a call for an interview?
New 7th Grade STEM Teacher: May not be currently certified to teach this class.
Let it be known that I have not met either of these individuals and I have no reason to believe that they don’t have the best interest of our school system and students in mind. This is only an attempt to show how the standards in our current school system are not being applied for everyone the same way.
Back story and the most alarming part of this e-mail:
In recent months, many parents and students have made it their mission to have Boys Varsity Soccer reinstated because there was a decision made several months ago to cancel the season. This decision was made without consulting with any parents or students and there was no real reason given for the abrupt decision. Many of us banded together (including Julie Dubreuil) to request a meeting to discuss these changes with the hope to gain a better understanding of the decision that was going to adversely impact our students and school. After three unsuccessful meetings and added confusion, Mr. Michael Buoniconti (Superintendent) came to the meeting as requested so we as parents could feel like someone was actually listening to us. During this meeting, many of us spoke up to express how poorly this situation had been handled during the previous three meetings and asked for better transparency, consistency and standards across all sports. There were absolutely no standards being applied which is why we continued to debate the decision. Thankfully, within 30 minutes of this 4th and final meeting, our soccer program was reinstated by Mr. Buoniconti, a coaching position was posted and we were back in the league! Immediately following the meeting, Marisa Mendonsa left the space visibly angry while our AD and Superintendent remained present for added questions which gave many of us the ability to thank them for actually listening. Julie was a huge support and driver of getting these meetings established but admittedly very careful on her active approach during these meetings for fear of repercussions she would see from her immediate superior Ms. Marisa Mendonsa. There are so many other layers to this but in the essence of time I wanted to keep this as quick and clear as possible so others could understand what is really happening with our administration and the decision that was made to term Julie. Julie’s fears came true yesterday and after 17 years teaching and being a valued member of our community she was terminated. Just like many of the decision I spoke about earlier in this e-mail, this makes no sense and is quite frankly very alarming based on what I know to be fact.
Bigger picture:
I have had a number of conversations with current faculty members that all are working out of fear based on many of the internal decisions that are being made. The environment they work in is no longer a shared collaboration and decisions are being made that are adversely impacting our students, faculty and our entire community. The decision to terminated Julie Dubreuil has only added to the layers of this dire situation that we are all in right now. These issues are real and will quickly impact our school system and community short/long term if not addressed by more than a select few. Also understand that without the parents and community speaking up, the district will continue down this path because the faculty will not be able to force anyone’s hand especially now that they see how quickly a highly qualified teacher can be terminated for standing up for what we all believe was right. Anyone that believes that Julie was termed simply based on her not passing a 2nd English level test (and not gaining waiver approval like so many others) is ill informed at best. I have a voice because I am not employed by the Mohawk Trail Regional School District but do wonder how I will be perceived by some after these communications begin to grow. That said, I will always stand behind what I believe is right and am hoping the support of many will far outweigh any other repercussions I may face in the process.
Julie deserves for all of us to band together to do everything in our power to reverse this decision and to make a difference for our community, youth and faculty today and for the future. We need to make sure that others do not share the same fate as Julie did for not “falling in line” with the direction of the current administration. There needs to be a fair and consistent approach for all and that is absolutely not happening currently.
Thank you in advance for your support of Julie and our school district,
Wade Bassett
Organizer
Wade Bassett
Organizer
Ashfield, MA