PORTLAND — They couldn’t say her name, or address any specific issue. But more than 20 educators and community members found a way to speak on behalf of terminated Portland teacher Josephine Tibbetts to be reinstated at a school board meeting Tuesday night.

Tibbetts, an eighth grade social studies teacher at Lyman Moore Middle School whose contract the district declined to renew, has seen a swell of support from students, parents and her colleagues over the past several weeks. She and the district’s teachers union allege she was retaliated against for speaking up to her principal about the climate and leadership at the school.

Although the school board’s comment policy prohibits members of the public from speaking on personnel issues, many of Tibbetts’ colleagues from Lyman Moore, as well as several of her students and their parents, spoke about equity, solidarity and preserving impactful educators.

They referred to Tibbetts as “she who must not be named”, “a certain teacher” and “hypothetical educator” as they advocated for her renewal, some wearing shirts with the phrase “We are Moore with Tibbetts.” Supporters packed the room, and held signs detailing her impact on students.

Teachers in Maine are considered probationary for a certain amount of time when they start a job, typically two years. Kerrie Dowdy, president of the Portland Education Association teachers union, said at the end of that period, school administrators can choose whether to bring them on permanently or not renew their contract and do not have to provide a reason for their decision.

Immediately after Tuesday’s public comment period, school board members entered an unscheduled hour-and-15-minute executive session to discuss a “personnel matter.” When they returned, the board did not address Tibbetts while audience members continued to hold signs of support. During a later vote to approve the list of teachers moving from probationary status to full contracts — the list on which Tibbetts would have appeared had her contract been renewed — two board members abstained.

A district spokesperson declined to answer questions about Tibbetts’ nonrenewal, citing personnel matters. Board Chair Sarah Lentz said Tuesday before public comment that hiring and firing is not the purview of the board. A spokesperson for the Maine Department of Education said policies around probationary teachers are defined at the district level, and set by collective bargaining contracts.

Tibbetts said she has not heard anything from district or building leaders. She doesn’t know if she’s eligible to be hired for a different job in Portland schools.

COMMUNITY RESPONSE

The decision to not renew Tibbetts’ contract is unrelated to the district’s ongoing budget process, which did cut some teaching positions; the board finalized its version of the budget in mid-April, and it now sits with the City Council.

The day after Tibbetts received the news of her nonrenewal, April 16, dozens of Lyman Moore students walked out of school in protest and picketed with signs. They later described Tibbetts as a community-minded teacher who helps students both academically and personally, and challenges them to be better.

In the weeks since, students have continued to protest, with additional walkouts and daily displays of posters and sticky notes in the halls of the school. Parents have demonstrated outside the school, too, and have sent messages of support on Tibbetts’ behalf to the school board and superintendent.

Kathy Farrell, a retired Lyman Moore special education ed tech, said during public comment on Tuesday that great teachers have high expectations for students and help them understand why they’re learning.

“They’ll tell you she’s tough, but they’ll tell you she’s amazing. Doesn’t this sound like a person you would want to teach your own child?” Farrell said.

Many Lyman Moore teachers also spoke broadly about concerns with leadership and equity at the school and district level, and said both have suffered as a result, in the form of high teacher turnover.

“Over the last few years, we’ve seen some of our best educators — who are the best not only because they’re competent and dedicated, but because they speak out on behalf of their students and their colleagues — are systematically leaving or being pushed out,” said science teacher Drew Schmid.

While the board met in executive session, Jessica Pelletier said Tibbetts has gone above and beyond for her son Liam, and that it would be a disservice to the community to lose her as a teacher. Fellow parent Dara Lestrade said she was confused and bewildered when she heard the news. Her daughter, Ayanna, said students have continued to put up signs in the halls because they “don’t really feel heard” by administrators.

‘HOW DID I GET SO LUCKY?’

For Tibbetts, teaching is a second career. She was a social worker for 17 years, and saw clients at Lyman Moore, before going back to the University of Southern Maine to get a teaching degree. She returned to the middle school as a dedicated building substitute, then as an intern, then an emergency language arts teacher, then was hired on as a full-time social studies teacher for the 2024-25 school year.

The district highlighted her as an exemplary teacher on its social media, and she also won an award for her work as a volunteer basketball coach. She served on a committee of teachers, students and parents that selected the new principal, Darralynn Jones, in 2024 and was on the staff liaison team to administrators.

But her relationship with Jones soured, she said, when she began speaking up about her concerns with school culture and Jones’ leadership in those liaison meetings, at the beginning of the current school year. She pulled back after colleagues advised her to avoid ruffling feathers.

“It makes sense,” Tibbetts said. “But also, it upset me, because a person who is wanting to do right by their community and lead their community with integrity would be OK with some accountability or feedback.”

In late April, school leaders informed Tibbetts that her contract would not be renewed, and that her benefits would end in August. When she asked why, Tibbetts said, Jones just referred her to her latest evaluation, which included all “proficient” and “novice/needs improvement” responses and no specific comments suggesting fireable concerns, according to a copy reviewed by the Portland Press Herald. Tibbetts said she has no disciplinary record.

The next day, she filed a Title IX complaint against Jones through the district’s reporting portal, alleging discrimination, harassment and retaliation. She has not yet received a response. Jones did not respond to requests for comment.

Tibbetts, who is Black and LGBTQ+, said she was drawn to Portland’s messaging around equity. But she feels that the district does not always live up to those promises internally, a concern other employees and parents have raised; the district is currently conducting an equity investigation into its practices.

Tibbetts said she has been overwhelmed by the support from students and parents.

At Tuesday’s board meeting, she spoke about her passion for her students. She said the goal of leadership should be to create a space where every voice is heard, and said the support from the community had caused her to reflect on her career.

“How did I get so lucky?” she said. “It is a powerful and humbling reminder that the impact I’ve always wanted to make is real, and aligns with my deepest value: reciprocity.”

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 4:30 p.m. on May 13 to correct the spelling of Kathy Farrell’s name.