This commentary is by Caitlin MacLeod-Bluver of Moretown. She is an English, history and reading teacher at Winooski High School, and 2025 Vermont teacher of the year.
It’s been my greatest honor and privilege to work as a high school teacher for nearly 15 years, and with Winooski youth for the past six years. We do many things in my English and history classes: read diverse books, engage in critical discussion on complex issues, study the past, write strong arguments, perform poetry, make art and more. But by far the most important thing I hope to do with my students is to help them understand complex issues, find their voice in writing and speaking, and then use their voice to advocate for a more just world.
I am writing to amplify their voices, and their voices are clear: Winooski School district must pass our proposed sanctuary school policy. While Winooski’s school board debated the logistics and merits of the policy at their last board meeting, the debate is simple and straightforward for students: “Of course we need this. Kids cannot learn if they are scared.”
The scientific research abundantly agrees with our students: when kids are in extreme fear, their brains cannot operate. Our students deserve a learning environment where they are safe and free of fear and anxiety in order for them to achieve academic success. Becoming a sanctuary school will help all students feel safe in school so that they can focus, learn and grow.
On the day after the election in November 2024, I held students crying in my arms all day. Students expressed fear: fear that they would be deported, fear that their friends would be deported and fear that their lives would be uprooted. As I held students, I assured them that they are cared for and that they are seen and affirmed in our school. I repeated again and again that here in Winooski, we view our diverse population as our greatest asset and that we will do anything in our power to combat racism and xenophobia and protect our students.
In Winooski, we can send a clear message to our diverse student body and community that we affirm each and every student and their right to an education free of fear by passing the sanctuary school policy.
In addition to limiting the sharing of information with immigration enforcement officials, the proposed policy will provide resources for students and their families with immigration questions. This is incredibly important. As a teacher, I am frequently gathering resources for students after school and scrambling to make sure all students get access to these important resources. A policy that affirms that the district as a whole commits to ensuring students have access to resources helps to both ensure that all students and families have access to the information and resources they need.
It would definitely be easier for districts not to wade into these waters. Already, Winooski has attracted much media attention for this bold policy. But, as a teacher, I never ask my kids to do what is easy; I ask them to do what is just. When there is a group that is in fear, or experiencing oppression, how can you use your voice, your power, your resources to advocate for them? Another student said simply, “If our school can adopt a policy that supports kids and helps families, why wouldn’t we?”
The fear that our students are experiencing is not abstract; it is concrete and it is already having an impact on my students’ ability to learn and focus in class. We, as a Winoosk school community, and we in Vermont must do all we can to help our students learn. This policy is one tool we have to do just that.
As more districts hopefully take up these conversations, I urge us all to listen to our youth. They are strong, forceful advocates for justice.
Read the story on VTDigger here: Caitlin MacLeod-Bluver: The Winooski school district should pass the proposed sanctuary school policy.