Williamston teacher recounts harassment at soccer sidelines, asks board to form athletics communication committee

Erin Richards, a teacher at Williamston High School, told the board during the meeting's agenda-only public comment period that she has faced repeated harassment and false accusations from a small number of community members connected to youth soccer and booster activities.

Richards said she served as a teacher, student government advisor and soccer coach at Williamston High School and that her first four years were among the best of a 12-year teaching career. She told the board the last three years have been difficult because she has been the subject of what she described as false accusations sent to administrators and board members, faced threats on the sidelines at a soccer game and endured repeated public confrontations about coaching decisions. She said some critics came from members of the soccer booster club who did not have children playing for the high-school girls program.

Richards cited the Williamston athletic handbook, noting it states parents should not confront coaches before or after contests, and said that rule was violated repeatedly during the spring season. She said there were occasions she felt unsafe on the sidelines when assistant coaches or administrators were not present and asked the board to consider forming a committee of stakeholders to review and revise athletics policies, parent-coach communication protocols and booster involvement.

She closed by saying she hopes the board’s attention will lead to clearer protocols, better safeguards and a safer culture for staff, coaches and students.

Board context and next steps

The board did not take immediate formal action on the request during the meeting. Board members and administrators acknowledged the complaint and noted the district’s athletic handbook language; the superintendent and athletics staff said topics like communication channels and a potential athletics advisory group are already under discussion in summer planning. The athletics director later described plans to stand up an athletic advisory group to invite community voices and to refine communication processes across programs.

No votes or disciplinary actions were taken at the meeting based on the comments; Richards asked for a stakeholder committee as a policy and culture step, not an individual personnel action.