Woman Fired Three Days After Filing Complaint.
BY: LITIGATION DESK | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2023 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A Palm Beach County teacher is suing the Palm Beach County School District, claiming discrimination led to her firing. At issue: an attempted conversation that allegedly occurred on April 21st, 2022. According to the complaint just filed in Palm Beach County Circuit Court and available for downloading, below, teacher Kathleen Madaras attempted to engage in conversation with teacher Angela Hammond. But Hammond, apparently, wasn’t interested. Madaras complained, said she was bullied, then was terminated. According to Madaras. that’s discrimination.
Both teachers work at Palm Beach Youth Academy. From the complaint: “I was getting the key to my office when Ms. Hammond approached the area and I said hello and there was no response. I continued and asked about collaborating on a lesson plan and she very clearly and in an intimidating way rudely stated she had no interest. As I walked away I made a comment about all she had to do was respond to my email sent April 18th.”
The complaint adds that Madaras then called her local union representative to ask what she should do. It’s unclear what response was received.
“It is with a heavy heart I write and file this harassment and bullying complaint against a colleague, especially since we are such a small group. The most recent and unwarranted aggression occurred on Thursday, April 21st, when I ran into Ms. Hammond and inquired about the email I sent her 3 days’ prior about collaborating on a lesson plan,” wrote Madaras in a letter sent to the school district. “I, as a new teacher, feel I am now a true victim of the bullying and harassment by a colleague.”
Madaras also claims there is a racial issue at play. Madaras says she is friends with another teacher who was transferred — a teacher who apparently also had issues with Ms. Hammond.
“I am ‘friends’ with the colleague that was transferred (we are professional and collaborate well together), and this is a racial issue. I hate to even suggest that but the colleague that was transferred and I are the same ethnicity.”
Madaras was terminated, according to the suit, just three days after she filed a complaint with the Palm Beach County School District. The suit seeks back pay and damages in excess of $50,000 — the statutory minimum for filing in Palm Beach County Circuit Court. Read the complete complaint.
