Nonrenewed Hinsdale Teacher Speaks Out About Student Safety

O'Neil claimed that multiple safety concerns reported to administrators had not received warranted responses.

 Concerns about student safety at Hinsdale Middle High School were recently expressed by a teacher whose contract will not be renewed for the upcoming school year. Timothy O'Neil, a business and engineering instructor, along with his wife, Susannah O'Neil, a science teacher at the same school, received notice regarding their non-renewal for the 2026-27 academic year. 

Timothy O'Neil indicated that both teachers had received positive evaluations but asserted that their non-renewal coincided with a formal grievance filed by Susannah against Principal Anna Roth and Superintendent David Ryan, which remains unresolved. He highlighted that various reported safety issues raised through proper channels lacked appropriate follow-up from school administration. He noted that they had not been given a clear justification based on performance for the decision. 

Speaking during a recent School Board meeting, Timothy O'Neil expressed his concerns directly to the members. He emphasized that he was not seeking to reclaim his job but was navigating the formal processes available to address their situation. He outlined incidents he had documented over three years, alleging a pattern of administrative decisions adversely affecting students, including last-minute changes to teaching assignments and disrupted curriculums. He also claimed that multiple safety concerns reported to administrators had not received warranted responses and that these incidents had now been communicated to local law enforcement and the New Hampshire Division for Children, Youth and Families.

During his address to the board, Timothy O'Neil shared his plans to take five teams of students to a design competition at the University of New Hampshire. However, he indicated that he would not have access to the school bus for transportation and would need to drive himself, suggesting that the administration did not value him or his wife's contributions. 

In response to the allegations raised, a concerned parent emphasized the importance of ensuring student safety while in the school's care and called for an active investigation into these issues. The superintendent acknowledged the role of public input during board meetings, affirming the importance of understanding community concerns in relation to school administration.

In a separate context, a second settlement has been reached concerning a former student at Twin Valley Middle High School, who faced bullying and racial harassment. Reports indicate that Principal Roth had a controversial history at Twin Valley, including a formal complaint from the ACLU of Vermont, regarding her response to similar issues. 

Earlier this year, students at Hinsdale Middle High School also expressed their dissatisfaction through a walkout, protesting the handling of racial harassment complaints involving a peer. The situation escalated to the extent that the family of the affected student withdrew her from the school due to safety concerns.