Employee sues Spring school district for discrimination, harassment

A Harris County woman has sued a school district, alleging discrimination and sexual harassment during her employment at a public school.

Tesha Faith Garganta filed a lawsuit Feb. 6 against the Spring Independent School District and five staffers in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas. Also named were: superintendent Ralph H. Draper; principal Lenny Hardoin; Title IX coordinator Julie Allen; human resources director Dean McKeithen; and dean of instruction Jeremy Hubbard.

According to the complaint, Garganta worked as a secretary and bookkeeper at the Edwin M. Wells Middle School in Spring when she asked Hubbard to accompany her to a room on Nov. 5, 2013, to indicate where supplies were kept. He followed her, shut the door and made sexual remarks, the suit states, and there were additional incidents in December 2013.

There was discrimination and harassment severe enough to interfere with Garganta's health and work performance, the suit states, and the school district, specifically Draper, Allen, Hardoin and McKeithen, failed to take corrective action.

Garganta seeks damages for lost wages, impairment of earning capacity, physical and emotional distress and medical expenses, punitive damages, attorney fees and costs. She is represented by attorney James R. Jones of The Woodlands.

Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas case number: 15-CV-00343