Student alleges BISD official manipulated academic rankings to cheat her out of salutatorian

A high school senior is suing the Beaumont Independent School District, alleging an official conspired to manipulate academic rankings and keep her from becoming class salutatorian. 

C’Brionne Hendrix filed a petition for declaratory judgment and application for temporary restraining order against BISD, Superintendent Timothy Chargois, Ieka Wilridge, Leigh Lowell and Patricia Lambert on June 4 in Jefferson County District Court.

C’Brionne Hendrix is a senior at Central High School, where her mother, Sharon Hendrix, is a long-term assistant principal. Lambert was the former principal of the school until Chargois promoted her, leaving the task of her replacement in Lambert’s hands.

Lambert is accused of scheming to keep control of her old position until she could hire a person who agreed to capitulate to her and be her "puppet principal," the lawsuit alleges. Lambert allegedly confessed her scheme of succession to Sharon Hendrix, the suit states.

According to the court document, Lambert asked Sharon Hendrix to be her successor as principal on at least three occasions, however she declined the position.

“Lambert has pursued a pattern and practice while employed by BISD and Central of imbedding her family members and personal dependents and loyalist in positions of responsibility,” the suit states.

“Consistent with that practice ... Lambert manipulated the academic rating of students to help make students become ahead of plaintiff in the graduating class of 2013 at Central.”

The suit accuses BISD staff of conspiring to advance another student ahead of C’Brionne Hendrix for the selection of class salutatorian.

The senior maintains she will miss out on scholarships worth hundreds of thousands of dollars due to Lambert’s wrongful manipulation.

For that reason, she is seeking a temporary restraining order.

Missouri City attorney Larry Watts represents her.

Judge Gary Sanderson, 60th District Court, is assigned to the case.

Case No. B194-415