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CCISD Retaliates Against Teacher For Filing EEOC

Submitted by John Kelley on Wed, 05/26/2010 - 22:15
in

After a local teacher was wrongfully reported to Child Protective Services in the fall of 2008, the Corpus Christi Independent School District terminated the teacher for excerising her right to file a discrimination claim with EEOC against the school district.

The teacher, Rena Garcia, was terminated after winning several battles with the district for the school board's support of the reporting principal, Donna Adams. Ms. Garcia was sent home on Oct. 14, 2008 after the report to CPS was filed by Adams. After a month of investigation, which included the child and his parent's support of Garcia, CPS "ruled out" the claim made by Adams.

Adams then pursued to seek termination of Ms. Garcia. Garcia won her hearing before a Hearing Officer in May, 2009. The CCISD Board did not accept the recommendation of the Hearing Officer to reinstate Garcia's continuing contract, but chose to offer a year's salary as a settlement to the ordeal. The school board also wanted Garcia to sign a settlement contract stating she would not sue the school district.

"I have done nothing wrong," says Garcia. "There is much more to this than what the school board wants to hear. Not once have I been interviewed by the superintendent, Scott Eliff, or a board member. The school board does not care about injustice." continued Garcia.

Garcia then decided to appeal the school board's decision to not reinstate her continuing contract to the Commissioner of Education, Robert Scott. Once again, Garcia prevailed with a direct order from the TEA Commissioner to reinstate Garcia's continuing contract. On Oct. 19, 2009, CCISD School Board rejected TEA Commissioner's ruling in favor of Garcia's position, and order to reinstate Garcia's continuing contract.

"I have no other choice but to file with the EEOC," states Garcia. "The district has ruined my credibility as a teacher."

Garcia was then informed by her EEOC investigating officer that the district had terminated her. Garcia has 22 years of work experience, 10 years with CCISD and has never been reported to CPS prior to the incident on Oct. 14, 2008.