Bandon Education Association Response to the Open Letter from Board Member Briana Hutchens
The Bandon Education Association would like to address the open letter recently published by Board Member Briana Hutchens. While we respect every board member’s right to express their opinion, we are deeply concerned that this letter publicly criticized educators and misrepresented the intent of our recent grievance hearing.
The educators of Bandon, the teachers, counselors, and specialists who show up every day for our students have acted in good faith throughout this process. Our grievance was not about personalities. It was about ensuring that the District follows the contract, the same agreement both parties signed, and that exists to protect fairness, consistency, and the integrity of our schools.
Educators have a right to raise concerns through the proper channels without fear of retaliation or public shaming. Suggesting that teachers are harming students by exercising that right is both untrue and harmful to the fabric of our school community.
Our members care deeply for their students. That's why they stayed, why they speak up, and why they continue teaching in Bandon even when doing so has become incredibly difficult. We believe strong schools depend on strong relationships built on mutual respect and accountability, not division or blame.
We call on the Board to reaffirm its role as an impartial body, committed to upholding the collective bargaining agreement and ensuring every employee and every student is treated with dignity and fairness.
We will continue to advocate for what’s right, to follow the process, and to focus on what unites us: safe, stable, and thriving schools for the children of this community.
Open Letter from Board Member Briana Hutchens
10/10/25
Open Letter to My Fellow Board Members
I have been devastated over the last few months. Before I am a board member or a volunteer, I am a parent. I have had children in this district since 2013. At the time, I had an elementary and a middle schooler. I have never felt this divide like I do today. The middle school has not, since 2015, had a consistent leader. In my opinion, the middle school has always been treated like the red-headed stepchild — until Ms. Armistead. The best thing for the district was when she moved to HLMS. For the last four years, the middle school has had a leader who cared.
Dr. Dockery has also been the best addition to our admin team; we could not have asked for anyone better. We need a strong leader willing to make hard choices. And I ask you to talk to the kids — they’ve seen what he’s brought to the school. Talk to past students. I spoke with a senior from last year who said he turned in the same English paper twice — once in his freshman year and again in his junior year — and received a higher grade the second time. Another senior said they removed the middle part of their packets, only did the front and back, and still received a 100%. Another said they just wrote the question as the answer — and they were a valedictorian. How do you get an A for not answering? The list goes on.
My 2022 graduate offered me insight on teachers and areas for improvement — all of which I feel the admins have worked to address over the last year. We have never had an admin team that worked so well together or cared so deeply for our community.
I have had it with hearing “what’s best for the kids” from the teachers. Last year, they tried to cancel prom and the senior class trip. There was another dance that teacher chaperones canceled last minute, and the admins dropped what they were doing to chaperone so the dance didn’t have to be canceled. That’s doing it for the kids. If students are feeling tension this year, it’s because teachers are projecting it onto them. The kids should have never been involved in negotiations, period. For the first time, I’ve had to tell my child to distance herself from me at school events, fearing teachers would take it out on her.
Yes, I’m friends with Shauna Schmerer. That’s not new. We’ve been friends long before I was elected — and I ran unopposed. If anything, we’ve had distance this year because I feel like I’m under a microscope. I’ve also been the hardest on her because I knew this would happen. In ten years as Booster Club President, Ms. Schmerer is the only superintendent to continuously attend meetings, volunteer, and help at fundraisers. Until her, our admin team had never attended — now they don’t miss it.
I believe the time has come for the board to publicly support our administration. This “he said, she said” has to stop. We are a small community, and nothing good will come from continuing to let the teachers and the public shame our administration. I fully support them and the work they do.
Respectfully,
Briana Hutchens
Parent of a current Bandon High School student and two alumni