Former assistant principal sues Brazosport ISD, claims promotion denied because of race, gender

GALVESTON - The Brazosport Independent School District faces a lawsuit from a former administrator who alleges he was passed over on a promotion because of his race and gender.

Recent court documents filed Dec. 19 in the Galveston Division of the Southern District of Texas state Robert Green applied to be the principal of R. O'Hara Lanier Middle School in Freeport, but he asserts are false allegations cost him the position.

The plaintiff, who is black, says BISD later decided not to renew his contract as LMS's assistant principal without giving him a chance to fight the move.

Green worked for the defendant from July 2005 to April 2012.

In October 2010, he applied and interviewed for the top job at LMS.

According to the suit, the complainant learned during the process that "he had been falsely accused of sexually harassing teachers, being flirtatious with students and charged with disciplining black students differently than whites and Hispanics."

BISD did not hire Green to which the latter argues went against the district's policy of promoting the assistant principal to the principal's position in the event of a vacancy.

Feeling the school district discriminated against him, the original petition says, Green filed a complaint only to reportedly undergo one disciplinary measure after the other between August 2011 and April 2012.

The respondent's school board then met prior to the end of the 2011-2012 academic year to discuss Green's contract situation.

Green says he was "not permitted to testify" at the April 30, 2012, hearing and BISD violated state law by bringing in someone from another district to act as presiding officer.

BISD's recommendation for non-renewal was approved.

"The reasons provided for not renewing Green’s contract were all a pretext to disguise unlawful discrimination and retaliation," the suit says.

A jury trial is requested.

Attorney Debra Jennings of The Law Offices of Debra Jennings in Houston is representing the plaintiff.

Case No. 3:13-CV-456