Look around Peoria, you will see black folks unemployed, getting passed over for opportunities, not getting jobs because our hair doesn't look "just so"; being the first laid off from their jobs, yet you never hear about any of them suing for discrimination. I've said it before and I'll say it again... it's amazing to me how other folks seem to have no problem finding an attorney that will represent them in discrimination lawsuits. This statement is not to take anything away from Mrs. Lawler's suit, I'm just saying. Anyhow...
At Monday's BOE meeting Terry Knapp said:
... and now:Tenured teacher who was fired from District 150 files lawsuit
One of the tenured Peoria School District 150 teachers fired this spring because of an unsatisfactory evaluation has filed a discrimination lawsuit in federal court, claiming the district failed to consider her disabilities before she was dismissed.
Eymarde Lawler, then a special education teacher at Trewyn School's Day Treatment Program, says, according to the lawsuit, that her unsatisfactory evaluation stemmed from post-traumatic stress disorder and other disorders brought on after she witnessed two gunshot victims immediately after an attempted murder near Trewyn in August 2011 and after she was seriously injured by students.
A week after the shooting, she was assaulted by a student at Trewyn. Suffering from a concussion, she had to be taken from the school by ambulance. Her rotator cuff was injured after an assault by a student in February.
Lawler is one of 10 tenured teachers fired in the wake of new state regulations that allow school districts to bypass seniority rights in work force reductions. So far, she is the only one to file a lawsuit.
Lawler and her attorney, Richard Stegall, charge that the district ignored medical recommendations to transfer her to a classroom of students with less violence-prone disabilities, which forms the basis of the lawsuit.
The school district's failure to accommodate her disability resulted in her unsatisfactory evaluation, Steagall said. The lawsuit also alleges the district retaliated against Lawler for reporting her disability and requesting a transfer.
Lawler had been employed by District 150 for 10 years, gaining tenure after three, which gave her sufficient seniority to avoid the layoff, according to the suit. She had worked at Trewyn for one year.
Lawler, who earned $56,000 a year, is asking to be reinstated to her job as a tenured teacher with back pay, benefits and $1 million in compensatory damages.Source
18 comments:
Trust me. This woman should have been fired long before last year. The sad part of this story is the district will wind up paying her off to go away and they really had legitimate reasons, but didn't follow protocol in getting rid of her.
Lathan and the board were warned to follow protocol. There are rules. Lathan and the board are arrogant. Who cares about anyone's opinion about this individual teacher. That is not the point. If the board thought they were in the right they would not be offering anyone money to leave and reverse their rating on their evaluation.
It is neither here nor there whether or not she is a good teacher. That fact is, the BOE and the supt. did not follow the LAW. They are not above it, the last time I checked GOD was none of their names. The principal that gave her the unsatisfactory is the very same principal who HIT a child in the school and was given a five day unpaid suspension(swept under the rug). This same administrator is now retired/rehired by the district to be in charge of speech pathologists. So, the moral of the story is; in dist.150 you do not have to follow the law as long as you have your head crammed up Lathan's hindend...
Well. most would agree that she should have been let go a long time ago. The district will end of paying something to her. Guidleines must be properly followed and if they are not this happens. How many principals were moved to other (really dumped) building to keep them on the rolls. By all means, the union is awars that we have some teachers that should be shown the door, but it is must legal. How many sups did the district pay off?
I worked with this woman in 2 different schools. She is excellent in the classroom and knows how to teach and teach well. The problems people had with her were personal all personal. you know who you are and I am sure that you are the ones who had personal issues with her. This is about what is happening in district 150 classrooms not your personal issues with her. I saw her evaluation. It had nothing to do with her teaching at all. In fact, our union is taking her evaluation to arbitration because it did not reflect her teaching. Again it was all personal. The evaluator smacked the same student who assaulted this teacher in the face after he spit on her 2 times. What does that tell you about the behavior problems in the classrooms?
Bobbie Darling stated that
" teachers are being assaulted all of the time in district 150 schools". That is horrible! If another professional went to work and got assaulted there would be drastic changes made in the work environment. What is it going to take for district 150 to get a handle on the behaviors in the classroom? Is it going to take a teacher getting killed?
I taught with woman too. I heard what was being said about her in the teacher's lounge and I agree it was all personal. I also had the opportunity to team teach with her. I agree she knows how to teach and teach well and that is what her job is. The issue here is that she is taking a stand against teachers being assaulted in district 150 schools. It could be you next. I agree what will it take for the district to stop the violence in the classroom against the teachers both verbally and physically? It is about time someone stood up and said enough is enough. Leave your personal issue out of this and see it for what it is one of our own was assaulted and is not going to take it anymore. You go girl.
In the first round of offers 2 fired tenured teachers took $7,500 buy out to have their record cleansed. In the second offer (this past Friday)5 teachers took the $15,000 buy out to have their records cleansed. 2 teachers have hired attorney's and will not accept any of the offers thus far.
The teacher's union is filing a law suite on behalf of this teacher and another one this week. More to come. Oh and the evaluation is going to arbitration. I too saw it and it was all personal and hearsay information.
These so called "teachers" are more deserving of herpes and crabs than they are of ONE MORE DIME from taxpayers. But then again, bedding down with the likes of her kind, I guess you get what you deserve - STD's and nothin else! Isn't she a cousin of the Texas gang-bangin teacher? Down with tenure and up with student accountability!
I have just been told that Mrs. Lawler's daughter has a brain tumor and needs surgery. Her insurance runs out at the end of August. This is how our district treats their employees. According to Senate BULL 7 (yes I said bull not bill) all teachers were to go on remediation .
Wake up teachers you could be next it does not matter how long you have taught. One of the teachers let go had been with the district for 20 years. One evaluation and she is gone.
More like down with tenure and more $$$$ to teachers who hike their skirts! Teachers who prey on students and taxpayers are nothing more than criminals. So many teachers seem to have this as their primary objective. Lawsuits of this kind speak to the heart of the biases our teachers have - racial and otherwise.
No more tenure! We have way too many poor performers who clog the system and our childrens opportunities! How about a rule - you teach within the district where you reside - don't like it - Pack your bags!!!
our service men and women desrve MUCH more than these tenure sucking dungs of society. Go Army!
Congratulations to the men of Alpha Phi Alpha! Your mentoring program should be supported by all - ESPECIALLY our teachers! But helpin ain't as easy as suing....
I think it is really sad that some teachers took the pay of instead of staying and fighting for what they believed in. To me they sold the others down the drain for money. What Judas's! If they were willing to take the money, it must mean they knew they weren't good teachers at all.
What is this Alpha Phi Alpha stuff? I am lost.
They had a fundraising walk to support their mentoring program last Saturday. Hopefully the walk AND their mentoring leadership will continue to grow.
What does that have to do with this lady filing a lawsuit?
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