GALVESTON � Alleging she was terminated from Houston Independent School District because of her gender, Pearland resident Romona R. Mayeaux is suing her former employer.
Mayeaux complains that HISD fired her last year from her position as JROTC/LCDC teacher at Fonville Middle School for violating its fundraising policy yet it did not discipline any male employee who engaged in the same conduct, a lawsuit filed May 31 in federal court says.
She explains that her apparent termination arose from when she held on to her fundraising money after an attempt to submit it to the proper individual was unsuccessful.
The school district trained personnel on who to submit funds when the general clerk is unavailable while Mayeaux was on active military duty, according to the original petition.
The professional development training sessions took place in September 2010, a month after the armed forces called the complainant up.
Mayeaux contends she did not know about the training or the updated policy until she was disciplined and insists two male colleagues who were trained did not follow said policy.
"Mr. (Roger) Ibarra (Fonville Middle School principal) is holding me accountable for errors that may not have been due to lack of training or knowledge of the new and updated fundraiser process and because I am a female," she says.
HISD fired Mayeaux in December 2010.
The plaintiff believes the school district's investigation was "fraudulent."
Consequently, she seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
Mayeaux is representing herself in the case.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt is presiding over the litigation.
Case No. 3:11-cv-242
Pearland teacher claims gender discrimination
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STORY