Superintendent accused of sexual harassment

Sept. 13, 2007

Adapted from the Beaver County Times

A former school psychologist has alleged in federal court that she was sexually harassed for about four months by the district superintendent then fired for making a formal complaint.

A civil lawsuit was filed against the superintendent and the school district, saying the man improperly used his authority over her and district leaders did nothing to assist her when she complained.

She also said in the filing that officials knew the man previously was accused of improper conduct at this district and while employed with another.

In her lawsuit, the woman, who worked at the district from 2002 until her firing this year, said the man began making suggestive comments and touching her without permission after he became superintendent.

She said he appeared at a meeting that she was attending, sat down next to her, and began squeezing her leg under the table, according to court documents.

She said she moved away from him. After the meeting, she text-messaged her husband, who told her to quit. But, because the couple had a young child and needed the money, she said in her lawsuit that she instead stayed at her job and tried to avoid the superintendent. She said she then noticed a reduction in the amount of work she was assigned.

When she began to interact with him again, she said her work assignments returned to normal, but she said the superintendent "consistently leered at (her) and repeatedly focused his gaze on her breasts when speaking to her," according to court documents.

She said he continued to make inappropriate comments to her—such as that he had "a wild imagination" about her—and touched her inappropriately through shoulder massages and back strokes, according to court documents.

The lawsuit also alleges that at least three female teachers have quit because of the man's actions and that students have complained that the superintendent makes them uncomfortable because he "is always touching them." She said at least one female student has expressed fear of being alone with him.

When she decided to confront him about his conduct, she said, she left messages on his voice mail and that of another building administrator that were not returned. The next day, she said, he went to administrators and made accusations against her, the lawsuit says.

Two days later, she said she received an e-mail saying she was fired. She filed claims with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and her state’s Human Relations Commission. She also filed an official complaint with the district, but the district has not taken any action against the superintendent, according to court documents.

She is seeking back pay and damages from the district, which she claims had a "pervasive atmosphere of condoned sexual harassment."