A former 法夸尔中学 teacher has filed a 诉讼 against former 油漆科高中 Principal Joel Beidleman and the Montgomery County Board of 教育, accusing both parties of creating a discriminatory and hostile work environment on the basis of sex.
受害者, listed only as “Jane Doe” in the 诉讼, was a William 法夸尔中学 teacher when the alleged harassment occurred. 后来她转学, 诉讼说, to protect her mental and physical health after years of mistreatment. Beidleman was the principal at 法夸尔中学 during her employment at the school.
Jane Doe’s story is not unique. The 诉讼 claimed that many female teachers who have worked under Beidleman have also been a victims of discrimination.
The anonymous teacher accused Beidleman of attempting to pursue a sexual relationship with her, routinely making sexualized comments towards her and creating an environment in which she believed her job was at risk.
“Dr. Beidleman wanted a sexual and romantic relationship with her and became hostile and discriminatory when she refused,诉讼中写道.
Beidleman made consistent 威胁 to the plaintiff, 诉讼称, that if she did not tolerate and stay silent about his “sexual comments, requests for sex and romantic advances,” her employment would have been in jeopardy.
2023年2月, the teacher had a physical and mental breakdown, 根据诉讼, after she had been beaten down by Beidleman’s intimidation, harassment and and manipulation. She was placed on medical leave.
She has suffered from anxiety, 羞辱, 恐惧, weight loss and other physical ailments as a result of her hostile work environment, 诉讼说.
The 诉讼 further accuses Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and the Montgomery County Board of 教育 of ignoring several complaints of Beidleman’s misconduct.
There were at least 25 verbal or written reports submitted to the school district about Beidleman since 2016, 诉讼声称. The reports detail the alleged patterns of sexual harassment, 威胁, retaliation and workplace bullying by the principal. The inappropriate conduct occurred throughout at least 12 years of Beidleman’s career across 法夸尔中学, Roberto Clemente Middle School and Lakelands Park Middle School, 根据诉讼.
The reports include the plaintiff’s story and other female teachers, but 诉讼声称 no investigation or disciplinary action was taken by MCPS.
The 诉讼 accused MCPS of tampering with the Beidleman investigation and not performing an objective investigation. MCPS had first concluded that Beidleman had harassed and intimidated the plaintiff, on the same day he was interviewed to be the next principal of 油漆科高中. The school district then changed their conclusion to the report, citing that there was not enough evidence to prove the plaintiff’s claims.
“MCPS chose to cover-up Beidleman’s conduct so they could reward him,诉讼中写道.
Beidleman was promoted to become the Principal of 油漆科高中. MCPS did not investigate claims about the principal before the promotion, according to a report by the law firm Jackson Lewis. Beidleman was subsequently placed on extended leave after an investigation by The Washington Post into the accusations.
