NEW: Smith Will Remain Head of Providence Teachers Union
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Steve Smith will remain head of the Providence Teachers Union after a 349-227 vote taken Wednesday.
Smith and other members of union leadership were being challenged by Anna Kuperman, who led a slate of candidates known as the “Teachers for a Democratic Union.”
According to their Facebook page, the group was calling for votes to be taken on major issues such as the Race to the Top application, an initiative Smith signed on to without the full support of the city’s teachers.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe group also pledged to increase communication with rank-and-file members and have more of a presence in the press to express concern around issues such as the “ridiculous evaluation model which is only adding more paper work to our lives, not improving teaching or learning.”
While Smith has had a frosty relationship with some of his membership, he has developed a strong relationship with the Providence School Department. Last year, Smith and former Superintendent Tom Brady were praised by Education Secretary Arne Duncan for their collaboration.
