Chicago school principal targeted pregnant teachers for firing, Justice Department suit alleges
The federal government has filed a lawsuit claiming that a Chicago school principal retaliated against teachers who became pregnant by firing them or treating them less favorably.
The Title VII suit filed on Tuesday against the Chicago Board of Education claims the discriminatory treatment took place at Scammon Elementary School on the city’s northwest side, report the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times. A press release is here and the complaint (PDF) is here.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission referred the case to the U.S. Justice Department after investigating complaints filed by two teachers at the school and finding reasonable cause to believe discrimination occurred. The complaint says that between 2009 and at least 2012, six teachers who became pregnant were fired and two others were forced to leave. It also alleges that pregnant teachers were disciplined and given lower evaluation scores.
The suit alleges Principal Mary Weaver commented to one pregnant teacher: “I can’t believe you are doing this to me. You are going to be out right before [mandatory] testing!” In another case, she allegedly asked a nursing teacher, “That isn’t over yet?” and, “When will you be done with that?”
Weaver received the Chicago Public Schools’ Principal Achievement Award in 2013, reports the Sun-Times. According to the DOJ’s complaint, she is still the principal at Scammon Elementary School.
Updated at 2:18 p.m. to identify the principal.
