ADVERSE EMPLOYMENT ACTIONS AND PUBLIC SCHOOL ...

Two cases displayed strife between the principal and the superintendent of schools. First,
in Finch v. Fort Bend Independent School District (2003 U.S. App.), Finch was a highly
recruited administrator, but after time the relationship soured to the point that the superintendent
told Finch that bringing her to Fort Bend was a mistake and that he personally did not like her.
Not surprisingly, Finch was reassigned and failed in her litigation. In Corbett v. Duering (2010
U.S. Dist.), Corbett’s relationship with the superintendent became strained because he refused to
provide favors to students with influential parents in discipline matters. From this point, Corbett
and the superintendent were at odds until his termination.
Three cases revolved around the administrator and interpersonal strife with the school
board. In Carrillo v. Rostro (1992 N.M.), Carrillo petitioned the board to allow students to make
up three missed school days and questioned the board’s commitment to education if they failed
to do so. Carrillo’s attitude at the meeting was described as arrogant, disrespectful, and
disharmonious to the functioning of the school system. Hinson, on the other hand, was ensnared
with strife with the board over various matters that stemmed from her prior history of having
grown up and attended elementary and secondary school with most of the school board members
in Hinson v. Clinch County Board of Education (2000 U.S. App.). Lastly, in Ulichny v. Merton
Community School District (2000 U.S. Dist.), Ulichny became embroiled in strife with the board
due to her handling of a bullying incident, the media coverage of the event, and the local interest
in the situation.
The final issue derived from Table 41 was a set of three cases where interpersonal strife
involved failed relationships with followers and superiors.
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