Students rally behind Lyme-Old Lyme science teacher

More than 200 signatures of support presented to Board of Education

Old Lyme — Students are rallying behind a popular science teacher at Lyme-Old Lyme High School, after they found out her contract was not going to be renewed.

Students showed up to Wednesday’s Board of Education meeting, where the board voted on nonrenewals of nontenured staff, and presented a petition with more than 200 signatures in support of teacher Jessica Ninteau. Students also put up posters at school on Friday supporting her.

Gary Bocian, a Lyme-Old Lyme High School junior, said he thinks students should be involved in the decision because they are the ones most impacted.

“She really connected with all the students,” he said of Ninteau. “She understood our struggles, our desires, and what it took for us to learn.”

The board voted on Wednesday to not renew nontenured staff. The board does this every year to ensure the school district has the fund-

ing to employ all positions for which it has budgeted, LymeOld Lyme Superintendent Ian Neviaser said. Nonrenewals due to loss of a position generally are rescinded once the budget passes.

Ninteau, who has been with the district for four years and would have been eligible for tenure next year, said she was told this week by the high school administration that she wasn’t a good fit for the community and her contract would not be renewed for next year. She said she decided with the union lawyer that her best option would be to resign her position for next year, rather than have a nonrenewal in her file.

She said students have been incredibly vocal and sent letters and emails in support of her.

“It means a lot to me that they care,” Ninteau said.

Correct information

Neviaser said he appreciates the students coming to the board meeting to express their opinions.

“I think they did an amazing job in presenting their points of view, and we’re quite proud of their passion in support of anything they believe in,” he said. But he said people are basing their opinions on “incomplete information” and he is asking people to be sure they have all of the correct information before coming to any conclusions.

He said he could not comment on personnel matters but confirmed there were no investigations of any teachers, nor disciplinary actions.

Lyme-Old Lyme High School sophomore Julia DiMella said that when students found out Ninteau’s contract would not be renewed, they took action almost immediately. Within 20 minutes, they gathered almost 90 signatures for a petition and by the end of the day there were multiple petitions, with at least two having more than 200 signatures.

DiMella called Ninteau “not only a great teacher but a wonderful person.”

Ninteau said she thanked the Board of Education at Wednesday’s meeting for letting her teach for four years and thanked the parents and students for being there to support her.

Lyme-Old Lyme High School senior Georgia Welch said the signatures prove that “we want her to stay in our community, and she does fit in with our community and she does fit in with us.”

Confusion among students

Students are confused why Ninteau will be not be returning.

“No one I have encountered can seem to figure out why they are choosing to terminate Mrs. Ninteau, seeing as she is an inspiring and charismatic educator who engages her students and makes them want to learn,” said Arianna DelMastro, a sophomore at Lyme-Old Lyme High School.

She said she thinks the school district’s decision “would imply that if you don’t really fit into the cookie cutter [mold], you don’t matter.”

“I think especially to high school students still trying to gauge their positions in the world, this would be a harmful implication,” she said.

Ninteau, 28, said that as a younger teacher, she connects really well with the students and creates hands-on labs to make science fun. Students describe her as unique and individual.

“They see me as someone they trust and they respect me and they are willing to listen,” she said.

Parent Kristin DelMastro said she’s flabbergasted by the district’s decision. She said students have an affinity for the teacher and she makes them want to learn.

“She makes their learning experience exciting and fun, and, honestly, I think that’s what teaching is all about,” she said. “I think today with all the technology and cellphones, getting students fired up to learn is really a gift, and I don’t think it’s something they should push aside.”