AURORA IS OFFICIALLY REINSTATED!! WE WON THIS BATTLE AND SHE IS HEADED BACK TO THE CLASSROOM WHERE SHE BELONGS!! THANK YOU FOR STAYING LOUD AND COMMITTED TO BRINGING HER HOME TO NEWTON SCHOOL!!
August 26, 2023
Final supporters
Reinstate Aurora Berger to her position as Art Teacher at Newton School
Aurora is a beloved member of the Strafford and Newton School Community. She grew up in Strafford and graduated from Newton. Then, after finding success developing her skill and passion for art, returned her to share her gifts with our children.
Aurora is an extraordinary teacher as well as an extraordinary artist. Her work has been displayed at the United Nations and the Kennedy Center. Her art has been awarded national honors including the Wynne Newhouse Award and VSA Emerging Young Artists Award by the Kennedy Center.
More importantly, she has changed perspectives and opened hearts and minds of many students at Newton who have found in Aurora’s art class a window into shared humanity and a balm for the wounds, whether large and small, in their own lives. For many students, Aurora was the first teacher to make art meaningful to them.
Aurora’s award-winning works, Life on the Line, and Restoration, include self-studies of her physical disability and how it manifests in her body. This work, as well as her entire art portfolio, is available on her website. At no time during her tenure, did Aurora show or talk about her portfolio with Newton students.
Nevertheless, Aurora was summarily terminated by the supervisory union after a an anonymous parent at the Mountain School complained about her art work–particularly a concern that children might see her artistic nudes.
The SU insists her termination was due to lack of licensing but she has complied with the requirements for licensing to-date; and her summary dismissal (without letting her complete the school year or even issue grades to students) is inconsistent with this technical rationale. This decision to suddenly remove Aurora was traumatic to her students. Losing their beloved teacher without explanation left them feeling abandoned.
- If you believe that Newton students deserve excellent art education please sign this petition to reinstate Aurora Berger as Newton’s Art Teacher.
- If you believe that Strafford and not the Supervisory Union or the Mountain School should determine who teaches at Newton School, please sign this petition to reinstate Aurora Berger as Newton’s Art Teacher.
- If you believe that the First Amendment protects an artist’s freedom of expression, please sign this petition to reinstate Aurora Berger as Newton’s Art Teacher.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
August 9, 2023
Reached 100 supporters
August 8, 2023
134 Comments
Are we to believe Aurora was hired lacking licensing and then fired solely for lack of licensing and dismissed immediately? Really? The annual art show at Barret Hall makes clear that Aurora is an excellent and joyful teacher, who will be sorely missed.
Having worked with Aurora Berger at the Newton School, I have the utmost respect for her professionalism, her dedication to and respect for students, and her sense of how art enhances humanity.
I've witnessed this teacher bring out the creative side of my granddaughter along with inner happiness. There's a teacher shortage and they fired/let go a beloved teacher? Why ? This move was disgusting.
Aurora is brilliant influence for our kids at the Newton School. Her suspension was on a flagrantly inacurate reading of the social media policy, and denying her the ability to complete her licensure effort was deeply improper. Find a way to get her her license, and reinstate her as Newton's art teacher.
Are we really going to start firing teachers and administrators for their work outside of school? That's a slippery slope and not one I think many of us would like to be on. I hope the SU reconsiders. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
Ms. Aurora is the best art teacher ever! BRING HER BACK!!
To terminate a God gifted teacher is a terrible tragedy.
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
AURORA IS OFFICIALLY REINSTATED!! WE WON THIS BATTLE AND SHE IS HEADED BACK TO THE CLASSROOM WHERE SHE BELONGS!! THANK YOU FOR STAYING LOUD AND COMMITTED TO BRINGING HER HOME TO NEWTON SCHOOL!!
August 26, 2023
Final supporters
Reinstate Aurora Berger to her position as Art Teacher at Newton School
Aurora is a beloved member of the Strafford and Newton School Community. She grew up in Strafford and graduated from Newton. Then, after finding success developing her skill and passion for art, returned her to share her gifts with our children.
Aurora is an extraordinary teacher as well as an extraordinary artist. Her work has been displayed at the United Nations and the Kennedy Center. Her art has been awarded national honors including the Wynne Newhouse Award and VSA Emerging Young Artists Award by the Kennedy Center.
More importantly, she has changed perspectives and opened hearts and minds of many students at Newton who have found in Aurora’s art class a window into shared humanity and a balm for the wounds, whether large and small, in their own lives. For many students, Aurora was the first teacher to make art meaningful to them.
Aurora’s award-winning works, Life on the Line, and Restoration, include self-studies of her physical disability and how it manifests in her body. This work, as well as her entire art portfolio, is available on her website. At no time during her tenure, did Aurora show or talk about her portfolio with Newton students.
Nevertheless, Aurora was summarily terminated by the supervisory union after a an anonymous parent at the Mountain School complained about her art work–particularly a concern that children might see her artistic nudes.
The SU insists her termination was due to lack of licensing but she has complied with the requirements for licensing to-date; and her summary dismissal (without letting her complete the school year or even issue grades to students) is inconsistent with this technical rationale. This decision to suddenly remove Aurora was traumatic to her students. Losing their beloved teacher without explanation left them feeling abandoned.
- If you believe that Newton students deserve excellent art education please sign this petition to reinstate Aurora Berger as Newton’s Art Teacher.
- If you believe that Strafford and not the Supervisory Union or the Mountain School should determine who teaches at Newton School, please sign this petition to reinstate Aurora Berger as Newton’s Art Teacher.
- If you believe that the First Amendment protects an artist’s freedom of expression, please sign this petition to reinstate Aurora Berger as Newton’s Art Teacher.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
August 9, 2023
Reached 100 supporters
August 8, 2023
134 Comments
I am shocked that the supervisory board would fire an art teacher for having nudes in their portfolio! Or abruptly for licensing issues without attempting to rectify the situation. Our school needs solid, consistent teachers who connect with the students and Aurora is that person. Reinstate her now.
Are we to believe Aurora was hired lacking licensing and then fired solely for lack of licensing and dismissed immediately? Really? The annual art show at Barret Hall makes clear that Aurora is an excellent and joyful teacher, who will be sorely missed.
Having worked with Aurora Berger at the Newton School, I have the utmost respect for her professionalism, her dedication to and respect for students, and her sense of how art enhances humanity.
I've witnessed this teacher bring out the creative side of my granddaughter along with inner happiness. There's a teacher shortage and they fired/let go a beloved teacher? Why ? This move was disgusting.
Aurora is brilliant influence for our kids at the Newton School. Her suspension was on a flagrantly inacurate reading of the social media policy, and denying her the ability to complete her licensure effort was deeply improper. Find a way to get her her license, and reinstate her as Newton's art teacher.
Are we really going to start firing teachers and administrators for their work outside of school? That's a slippery slope and not one I think many of us would like to be on. I hope the SU reconsiders. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
Ms. Aurora is the best art teacher ever! BRING HER BACK!!
To terminate a God gifted teacher is a terrible tragedy.
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
I am shocked that the supervisory board would fire an art teacher for having nudes in their portfolio! Or abruptly for licensing issues without attempting to rectify the situation. Our school needs solid, consistent teachers who connect with the students and Aurora is that person. Reinstate her now.