Former Supt. Discriminated Against Teacher, Texas Jury Says
by Jim Brown
March 31, 2005
(AgapePress) - A Texas jury has found a former school superintendent guilty of discriminating against a teacher who was denied a promotion because she refused to take her children out of Christian school.The federal jury in Dallas has found former Greenville Independent School District superintendent Herman Smith guilty of violating Karen Barrow's constitutional and parental rights, and awarded her more than $15,000 in lost wages. Smith is also forced to pay $20,000 in punitive damages for denying Barrow a promotion to assistant principal because she would not send her children to public schools.
Barrow's attorney, Kelly Shackelford with Liberty Legal Institute, says the jury verdict sets an important precedent.
"We felt like that was a really strong message that [what Smith did] is inappropriate," Shackelford says. "[N]o teacher, no administrator should have to feel like they're being blackmailed with regard to their kids when they're considering a promotion to be a principal or assistant principal."
The case arose when Smith told Barrow she had no future in the school district unless she removed her children from Christian school. Shackelford believes the verdict of the jury will make school administrators think twice about making similar statements.
"This really sends a message to every superintendent or school official in the country who thinks that maybe they can use [the fact that] where somebody has their children educated against them, essentially blackmailing them in their career. That is not allowed," he offers, "and if you do that, you can get hit with punitive damages."
Barrow has announced that all of the money she won in the case will be used to provide college scholarships for Greenville ISD and Greenville Christian School graduates who pursue education degrees. According to Liberty Legal, the school district itself was not punished, as Smith was found solely liable for the discrimination. The monetary damages will be paid by the insurance company which represents both the school district and the former superintendent.
Jim Brown, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
