School district responds to former Spanish teacher's racial discrimination suit

HOUSTON - The Fort Bend Independent School District raised issue with a former employee's racial discrimination lawsuit, recent court records show.

Missouri City resident Marie M. Youngblood claims FBISD forced her to resign after complaining about a hostile work environment she attributes to her being black.

According to the ex-Willowridge High School Spanish teacher, the school district did nothing to address purported harassment from her students.

FBISD filed an original answer to Youngblood's allegations late last month, insisting their decisions regarding her employment were based on "legitimate, non-discriminatory and non-retaliatory reasons."

The six-page rebuttal argues the plaintiff was not subjected to severe or pervasive harassment, and "to the extent (she) endured any harassment, such harassment was not because of (her) race, color or national origin."

It adds the defendant did its best "to prevent and correct promptly any harassing behavior."

Youngblood "unreasonably failed to take advantage of any preventive or corrective opportunities provided by FBISD or to avoid harm otherwise," the response says.

The respondent asserts it cannot have legal action brought against it because it is a governmental entity.

Attorney Paul A. Lamp of Feldman, Rogers, Morris & Grover LLP in Houston is representing FBISD.

Case No. 4:13-CV-1876