Teacher’s Union Issues Statement Slamming Dr. Gene Posca’s Remarks He Made About Teacher Leadership.
IRCEA calls Dr. Posca’s comments about teacher leadership “unfounded and offensive.”
On Thursday, the Indian River County Education Association (IRCEA) issued an emphatic rebuke of Dr. Gene Posca’s comments regarding failed teacher leadership. Dr. Posca claimed that when he attended the Sebastian River High School (SRHS) graduation ceremony in May of 2023, he witnessed, “ that a majority of teachers did not stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, did not put their hands over their chest, did not participate in it.”
Dr. Posca clarified in his remarks he was referring to The National Anthem and not the Pledge of Allegiance. In their statement, the IRCEA refuted his testimony, saying, “Video evidence from the School District of Indian River County’s (SDIRC) YouTube channel clearly shows both the graduating students and the faculty standing respectfully for the National Anthem during the ceremony, “adding, “the core of his claim—that our teachers cannot be trusted to do their jobs —is entirely unfounded and offensive.”
The video on the SDIRC YouTube channel does not show any clear evidence to Dr. Posca’s claim. The camera view is from the top of the bleacher stands, a great distance away. The overall quality of the video is not perfect. The video begins with the students walking in formation in blue and white gowns, with senior class teachers, staff and counselors, taking their seats in the middle of the football field. Faculty wore the traditional black gowns. The honored class and staff appear to remain standing until the procession is completed. At that time, principal of SRHS, Christopher Cunningham, addresses the audience and guests to remain standing for the National Anthem. The video does not show “a majority” out of compliance.
Dr. Posca had the privilege of being seated on the podium with other board members, merely 15 yards away from the students and faculty of the class of 2023. Reached for comment Dr. Posca said, “The video mentioned by IRCEA shows only a small number of the faculty, some are standing, and some are sitting. I stand by my remarks. Hopefully, we can find more footage and pictures that can clearly demonstrate what I witnessed.”
In his remarks on Monday, he described what he witnessed as “red flag” evidence of “a dereliction of leadership.” Dr. Posca was addressing a citizen’s concern about students at SRHS not having the discipline to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and not being required to do so by teachers. The daily Pledge of Allegiance and moment of silence is official school policy backed by state statute. The IRCEA called the comments “defamatory,” adding, “[which] undermine the trust and respect between educators and the community” because there is not evidence readily available to back his claim.
The IRCEA also accused Dr. Posca of political grandstanding. “By disseminating these unfounded claims, Dr. Posca appears to leverage his position as a school board member for personal political advantage,” says the statement. The IRCEA added, “Both his intentially [SIC] false statements and his political posturing are a breach of the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Board Members as outlined in the SDIRC School Board Bylaws.”
Dr. Posca’s remarks were addressing a public comment of a citizen. Public comment, or, “Citizen Input,” takes place during the gaveled session of an SDIRC board business meeting. Board members take into consideration citizen input as part of the overall decision making process. It is a function of board business.
In the past, the IRCEA has clearly engaged the political process for various purposes. After the DeSantis administration enacted legislation regarding school libraries, the IRCEA appeared to have coordinated with media and progressive activists associated with their ranks. At Storm Grove Middle School, an unnamed teacher with a classroom library had turned all of its books around, so as to not read the titles on the spine and put a giant pink taped X across each of the shelves. A parent, former teacher and liberal activist, Angela Love, posted a picture of the classroom library with comment expressing sadness and how the “teacher was tearing up."
It went viral blaming conservatives and the local chapter of Moms for Liberty. It was learned later that the IRCEA president, Jennifer Freeland, sent an email to 500 members on August 4th to recommend, “that teachers NOT fill out or submit any forms regarding classroom libraries. We also recommend that teachers do NOT allow students access to classroom libraries at this time.”
Just eleven days later in August, Freeland sent an email to school board candidate, Cindy Gibbs and incumbent candidate, Teri Barenborg, inviting them to the SRHS campus cafe, Sharky’s, to meet and speak to the union membership. “You would each have 10-15 minutes to use as you would like, very townhall style,” she proffered to Barenborg and Gibbs without offering the opportunity to the other 4 candidates in the 2022 race. Upon discovery of the invitation by the public for an illegal political event on public school property, the townhall was canceled. The union never interviewed any of the other 4 candidates in consideration for endorsement.
According to IRCEA officials, the union represents 62% of employed teachers at the school district. In an April 7th interview with Ray McNulty of Vero News, IRCEA President Freeland commented in regards to the political make-up of the union membership in the district by answering her own question. “People think we are a Democrat group? That’s not the case. We are mostly red, just like the rest of the county.”
However, when it comes to leadership direction, the Democrat description is true. The union also sent emails to members that coordinated meet and greets for Cindy Gibbs, the candidate endorsed by Democrat challenger for governor, Charlie Crist in 2022. One such event took place at the Tiki Bar and Grill in Sebastian according to the invitation obtained by The Sunshine Journal. When passing the law about union membership having more control over how dues are paid, Gov. DeSantis remarked, “For far too long, unions and rogue school boards have pushed around our teachers, misused government funds for political purposes, taken money from teachers’ pockets to steer it for purposes other than representation of teachers and sheltered their true political goals from the educators they purport to represent.”
At the end of the day, leaders claim many things. However, it is all about the evidence.
**This story will update based on any new evidence.
Are the two issues between Dr. Poska and the IRCA libraries linked? I spilled to see the connection. Yeah they are in one article.