Dozens of students, parents and teachers pressed the Lynn School Committee during the public comment period to ask the district to renew an H‑1B visa sponsorship for Ainho Atianen, a history teacher at Lynn Classical High School whose employment-based visa is set to expire in February 2026.

Supporters said Atianen — known to students as “Miss A” — has been an integral part of the Classical community since 2021 and schools officials, students and parents had asked the district to continue sponsorship. The appeals came after Atianen told the committee she had received a November 18, 2024, letter from Lynn Public Schools’ human-resources office saying “after careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to not sponsor H‑1B visas any longer for employment purposes moving forward.”

Why it matters: Atianen’s supporters said she plays multiple roles — classroom teacher, course-team member, and class adviser for the graduating class of 2026 — and that losing her midyear would disrupt students’ instruction and extracurricular planning. Speakers also framed the decision as an avoidable personnel cost and a potential hit to the district’s stated equity and recruitment goals.

Students and colleagues described Atianen’s classroom impact and community ties. Zach Johnson, a current or former student who introduced several public commenters, said he had worked with Atianen and came to “lend my support to one of the finest history teachers in the district, Miss A.” Senior class president Amanda Hughes said, “Miss A is one of the most impactful teachers I’ve had during my time as a Lynn Public Schools student.” Christopher Stank, a parent, said the teacher’s continuity and relationships matter for the class of 2026 as they plan for graduation and prom.

Atianen described her work at Lynn Classical and the district’s communication about the visa decision. She told the committee she had led curriculum work on US history for multilingual learners, presented at a national conference, served as US 1 PLC leader and been class advisor since students’ freshman year. She said she and her principal and department head had expressed interest in sponsoring a three‑year extension, and that when she contacted HR in October she was told the district would no longer sponsor H‑1B visas; she said the November letter was the only formal communication she had received from the district on the decision.

Speakers also cited cost comparisons. Atianen said, citing research she had reviewed, that hiring and onboarding a new teacher in Massachusetts can cost “anything between $12,000 to $25,000,” while “renewing an existing H‑1B visa for a company with more than 25 employees is around $3,000 without attorney fees and premium processing.” Those figures were presented to illustrate that renewal would be cheaper than recruiting and onboarding a replacement.

District officials did not announce a change in policy during the meeting. Commenters requested clearer steps from Lynn Public Schools HR describing whether and how individual H‑1B employees could preserve status, and several asked the committee to instruct the administration to revisit the decision. Supporters said they had circulated a petition with more than 280 signatures urging renewal.

What’s next: Commenters asked the committee for a clear, written explanation of the district’s H‑1B policy change and for a review of Atianen’s case before February 2026. The committee did not vote on the matter at this meeting; several members asked for follow-up materials and the administration indicated it would continue discussions with staff and union representatives.

Ending: Supporters asked the committee to align personnel decisions with the district’s mission and recruitment goals; they said reversing or clarifying the HR decision quickly would reduce disruption for students and families.