BEAUMONT – The Ninth Court of Appeals has stayed a whistleblower suit against the Beaumont Independent School District.
Shaunte Guillory made local headlines in early December when she filed suit against BISD in Jefferson County District Court, alleging she was demoted from principal at Mae Jones-Clark Elementary to assistant principal at King Middle School after making a complaint about Assistant Superintendent Dwaine Augustine.
In her suit, Guillory further alleged that she was put on leave after giving the FBI and the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office information concerning a criminal investigation of Jackie Lavergne, Jones-Clark’s former principal.
Court records show the district filed a plea to the jurisdiction on Dec. 11.
Although Judge Gary Sanderson, 60th District Court, did not expressly deny the plea, he granted a temporary inunction and set the case for trial on Feb. 6.
BISD filed an accelerated appeal and on Jan. 7 Ninth Court justices stayed the case until disposition of the appeal.
Guillory is alleging retaliation and seeks up to $1 million in damages from the district.
Missouri City attorney Larry Watts represents her.
BISD is represented by attorney Jonathan Brush and Clay Grover of Rogers, Morris & Grover, a Houston law firm.
Trial court case No. B-197835
Appeals case No. March 2, 2010531-CV