ADVERSE EMPLOYMENT ACTIONS AND PUBLIC SCHOOL ...

individuals who choose to become school administrators may lose a high-paying job. If the cause
demands loss of one’s educational certificate, then individuals choosing to be school
administrators can also lose their career. This creates an economic ripple effect as a professional
educator loses a well-paid job and subsequently pursues legal action. These legal processes are
costly on three levels. First, taxpayers must foot the bill for legal proceedings that take place if
the adverse employment action is challenged. Most never see the inside of a courtroom, but
attorney costs are assessed in following administrative remedies. Second, taxpayers must pay for
the costs of reinstatement, damages, and the other party’s attorney fees if the administrator is
shown to have been treated unjustly.
Statement of the Purpose
It was the intent of this study to identify and track trends in litigation involving adverse
employment actions, including demotion, reassignment, and termination, involving school
administrators, which for the purpose of this study includes principals and assistant principals.
This study may provide administrators and school districts with information necessary to offer
professional development and help aid in understanding events and issues in education that
consistently lead to adverse employment action against administrators. It was at first the purpose
of this study to provide school administrators with an understanding of issues, trends, and
outcomes of court cases involving adverse employment actions against principals and assistant
principals. It was also the purpose of this study to provide school administrators with guiding
principles about adverse employment action against principals and assistant principals to inform
the human resource function of school administrators.
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