Teacher claims termination due to reporting TAKS cheating at charter school

GALVESTON - Arguing she was terminated for reporting illegal activities, a Galveston County woman is suing a local charter school.

Sarah Guevara says she lost her job as a teacher at Odyssey Academy in Galveston because she filed a report over alleged cheating on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills standardized test to the Texas Education Agency.

The lawsuit filed Sept. 24 in Galveston County District Court does not mention the dates of the plaintiff's employment, nor that of her dismissal.

Guevara insists she complained in good faith and encouraged a teacher with whom she worked to do the same.

The original petition ultimately points out that

She alleges Odyssey learned of the report and then created a pretext to terminate her.

"The plaintiff's termination was caused in fact and law by her exercise of her rights and duty under the law to the Texas Education Agency, which has supervisory authority over the defendant," the suit says.

Guevara seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.

She is represented by attorney Larry Watts of Missouri City.

The case has been assigned to Galveston County 10th District Court Judge David Garner.

Case No. 10-cv-3674