HOUSTON – A former director at Wharton Community College is suing the school for terminating him because of his race, recent Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas records say.
Dr. Cyrus Johnson, in a lawsuit filed on Nov. 22, says his dismissal as the Director of Adult Education and Literacy was a pretext. Johnson was the only African American director at WCJC and the only director with an education doctorate.
The suit explains that the school informed Johnson that he did not follow its policies in relation to a t-shirt purchase order in July 2016, stating the plaintiff possessed documentation proving otherwise.
The respondent allegedly informed Johnson his employment as AEL Director was to be discontinued though he secured funding for the upcoming school year, met and exceeded target goals, and had positive reviews.
According to the original petition, WCJC did not allow Johnson to finish his contract term and the position was not advertised. Johnson’s purported replacement was his subordinate, who is a non-black female.
Consequently, the plaintiff seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
He is represented by attorney Ahad Khan of the law firm Ahad Khan Law in Houston.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas Case No. 4:17-CV-3592