ADVERSE EMPLOYMENT ACTIONS AND PUBLIC SCHOOL ...

Case Year State Action PP Litigative Claim
McCormack v.
Maplewood-Richmond
Heights School Dist. Bd. of
Educ.
1996 MO T S McCormack claimed that her termination for failure to remediate numerous
problems with her leadership style was wrongful and violated her due process
rights infringing on her liberty interests.
Bd. of Trustees v. Knox 1997 MS S S Knox claimed that his suspension for failed leadership was lacking good cause
and not supported by sufficient evidence to prove that he acted insubordinately
by allowing students to read prayers on the announcements.
Brandt v. Cortines 1997 NY T S Brandt argued that his termination for failed leadership violated state policy and
due process because the superintendent usurped the school board and terminated
Peterson v. Minidoka Co.
School Dist.
Caston School Corp. v.
Phillips
Bradshaw v. Pittsburg Ind.
School Dist.
his probationary period.
1997 ID T SPLIT Peterson was reassigned to a teaching position and eventually terminated for
undermining the public’s confidence in his school based on his decision to home
school his twelve children for religious purposes. Peterson argued that this action
violated, among other things, his freedom of religion, free speech, and due
process safeguards.
1998 IN NR S Phillips was non-renewed, and he alleged that his due process safeguards were
violated because the district failed to carry our pre-termination hearings due to
the fact that Phillips had sued and won an extra year of principal salary while
serving as a teacher in the prior year.
2000 PA R S Bradshaw alleged that her reassignment was a retaliatory move and a First
Amendment violation because she responded to notice of her pending
reassignment with letters to the board, superintendent, and local media claiming
that the school system had failed to support her during allegations about the
Hinson v. Clinch Co. Bd. of 2000 GA R E
mismanagement and misuse of funds at her school.
Hinson argued that her reassignment was based on gender discrimination rooted
Educ.
in interpersonal strife with the school board.
Downing v. City of Lowell 2000 MA NR S Downing argued that his non-renewal was a violation of his tenured
administrative status.
Ulichny v. Merton Comm. 2000 WI R S Ulichny claimed that her reassignment was a constructive discharge violating her
School Dist.
due process rights and abridging her property and liberty interests. This
reassignment was spurred by interpersonal strife with faculty and parents but
primarily because of an assault on a student where six students trapped and gave
another student a “wedgie.”
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