Community Grieves the Departure of a Beloved Principal
At a recent Grand Rapids Board of Education meeting, dozens of Sibley Elementary School teachers and parents gathered to express their concerns over the departure of principal Roselyn Charles-Maher. Her exit has left a deep impact on the school community, with many describing it as a “tremendous” loss. One parent, Ruby Garcia, shared her thoughts through an interpreter, emphasizing how Charles-Maher’s bilingual leadership made a significant difference at the neighborhood school.
Garcia noted that Charles-Maher could communicate in both English and Spanish, allowing her to connect more effectively with students and families. This unique ability was one of the reasons she was so valued by the community. Charles-Maher herself explained that she decided to leave after spending half her life in the district because GRPS did not offer competitive wages or retirement benefits for someone like her.
She had been the principal since 2016, and her departure comes amid ongoing discussions between the Grand Rapids Education Association (GREA) and the district about salary increases. GREA has been advocating for a 7.5% raise for teachers, while the district has offered only 1.5% raises, which is lower than what other districts provide. The current contract expired on June 30, and the district’s average teacher pay for the 2023-24 school year was $60,816—the lowest among districts in the Kent ISD.
Union leaders argue that higher pay is essential to retain teachers, especially as several educators have recently resigned. Two teachers have publicly announced their resignations at board meetings in the past two months. One former resource teacher at Southwest Elementary School cited understaffing and high caseloads as the reason for her decision to leave.
Kymberlie Davis, the school board president, has not commented directly on the collective bargaining process but has stated that all board members want better pay for teachers. However, they must also consider balancing the district’s budget, which passed with a narrow vote of 5-4 and includes a $13.5 million operating deficit. Superintendent Leadriane Roby attributed the deficit to factors beyond the district’s control, such as lost federal funding and state budget uncertainty.
Despite these challenges, neither Davis nor Roby have provided much detail about specific budget constraints or potential cuts after the elimination of 25 positions this month. Roby has also declined interview requests from local media outlets.
Charles-Maher will now take a principal position within Forest Hills Public Schools, where the average teacher pay is $79,847—the highest in the Kent ISD. She was joined in leaving the district by her assistant principal, Riley Sunday, whose position was posted on July 1.
Before becoming a principal, Charles-Maher spent nearly 20 years as a teacher at Ottawa Hills, Central, and Union high schools. She has also received recognition for her work, including being named a Fulbright Leaders for Global School program award recipient. She has been with the district since graduating from Grand Valley State University in 1997.
During the July 14 meeting, many public commenters were moved to tears by her departure. Some community members who required interpreters to speak before the board highlighted her role as a bilingual leader at Sibley Elementary.
In the 2024-25 school year, GRPS enrolled 13,692 students, with 39.34% identifying as Hispanic/Latino. At Sibley Elementary, 42.21% of the 308 students were Hispanic/Latino. Charles-Maher, born in Venezuela, emphasized the importance of global perspectives for education leaders, stating that change requires seeking out new experiences and ideas.
Sara Scott, Sibley’s community school coordinator, noted that she is the only non-teaching staff member who speaks Spanish at the school. Charles-Maher mentioned that despite her extensive experience, her 18 years of teaching were not considered in the pay scale when she requested a salary review.
Now that Charles-Maher and Sunday are departing, Sibley Elementary teacher Alexandra Sterk said she is “absolutely desperate to leave GRPS.” She described feeling exhausted, heartbroken, and terrified about returning next year. Others who spoke during public comment emphasized the need to find the right replacement candidates, suggesting community listening sessions and involving parents and staff in the interview process. Many also stressed the importance of recruiting bilingual individuals to continue supporting the diverse student population.
