Maribeth Calabro is the New President
of Rhode Island’s Largest Teachers Union

‘I’ve seen a lot,’ Calabro says as she exits the Providence public school district

Share
Maribeth Calabro is the New President
of Rhode Island’s Largest Teachers Union
Copy

After 30 years as a special education teacher in Providence, Maribeth Calabro is leaving the classroom to be the president of the R.I. Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, the state chapter of the American Federation of Teachers.

She’s seen a lot of change in three decades teaching at Nathanael Greene Middle School — “I’m older than the furniture,” she joked — where she also served as the Providence Teachers Union president before being elevated to the statewide union.

In an interview with “Rhode Island PBS Weekly” and the Rhode Island Report podcast, Calabro discussed the Providence schools’ financial crisis, her early thoughts on the 2026 governor’s race and this year’s RICAS scores.

This story is part of a collaboration between The Boston Globe Rhode Island and Rhode Island PBS. To access the Globe online for free for 30 days, sign up here (no credit card required).

As rent becomes more expensive in Providence, city council president Rachel Miller says the city should place a cap on yearly increases
Trial tentatively scheduled for Nov. 2027, one year before new bridge completion date
Silvia, a political newcomer, cites homelessness and neighborhood conditions as top concerns in a crowded race ahead of the September 16 preliminary election
Nonprofits face a September deadline for grants funded by $10 million in settlement money
Award-winning documentary by Michelle Le Brun challenges ageism and celebrates the lives, wisdom, and cultural impact of five remarkable elders