Teachers at The Met School to unionize with NEARI

Educators at The Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center (The Met School) have voted to unionize with the National Education Association Rhode Island (NEARI), the organization announced today.

“Met educators are deeply committed to our students, families, and the future of public education. For 30 years, we’ve provided a phenomenal education – one student at a time,” said Siobhan O’Malley, an advisor at The Met for eight years. “Now, we’ve organized to ensure that The Met continues to thrive, with smaller class sizes, greater transparency, and a real voice in the shaping the future of our school.” 

“We are proud to welcome The Met School teachers into the NEARI family,” said NEARI Executive Director Mary Barden. “NEARI and The Met share a deep belief in the power of public education to transform lives. By taking this step, these educators are affirming their commitment to their students, families, and school community – and to having a strong voice in decisions that impact their work and their students’ success. We look forward to supporting them in this journey.”

“The Met is a special place,” said Angela Twiggs, an industry certification instructor at The Met for nine years. “As a staff, we bring so much knowledge, creativity, and ownership to our work—and we want to be true partners in building on what makes The Met great. This vote was our way of standing together and saying: we love this place, and we believe it can be even better.”

The Met School is a network of six small, public high schools located in Providence and Newport with a unique focus on individual project-based learning. A state-funded public school district, The Met employs 83 certified educators who serve as who serve as advisors, teachers, and professional support to students as they pursue customized learning plans.

The National Education Association Rhode Island (NEARI) is a union and professional organization with a proud history of serving Rhode Island since 1845. NEARI is 12,000 members strong, we are classroom teachers; education support professionals; higher education faculty, staff, and graduate assistants; municipal and state workers; and retirees. We are affiliated with the National Education Association (NEA) and RI AFL-CIO. Learn more at www.neari.org.