HOUSTON - Brazoria County resident Cassandra Reynolds has filed suit against the Houston Independent School District over what she claims is age, race and gender discrimination.
A lawsuit filed July 26 in Houston federal court alleges HISD moved not to renew the plaintiff's contract and those of other teachers in Madison High School's business curriculum group due to a reduction in force, but retained others who were less experienced.
Reynolds, a 48-year-old black female, says all of the employees who lost their jobs were African-American females over the age of 40, asserting the school district "targeted" that demographic.
The plaintiff also explains that HISD did not adhere to its policy in which "all employees who are subjected to a reduction in force are to be the first applicants considered for openings at (its) other campuses."
According to the suit, the defendant filled positions with teachers in the Teach for America program "at a much lower salary than Reynolds made."
"Teach for America Teachers are teachers that are brand new to the profession, are typically in their twenties, have no experience and possess fewer credentials than the teachers that were subject to the reduction in force lay-offs," the original petition says.
Consequently, Reynolds seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
She is represented by attorney Christopher L. Tritico with Tritico Rainey PLLC in Houston.
Case No. 4:12-cv-2250