Legal Question in Sexual Harassment in New York
Sexual Harassment by a School District Coordidnator
I have worked for a school district as a reading specialist for the past 2 3/4 school years. This, my third year would be my year to receive tenure. I was called into my principal's office to meet with her and my coordinator and was told that I was not going to be given tenure. I asked why was told I am ''inconsitent''. I asked, as per advice from my union for a teacher improvement plan and again was denied. I was told to resign straight away! My evals. have all been fine by the principal. The coordinator has harassed me and othersand has created a hostile work environment. I was told by a reliable source that the coordinator who is a woman has a ''thing'' for me. She has touched me inappropriately, asks me questions about my personal life, belittles me infront of others but acts differently towards me behind closed doors. I am not a lesbian -this is part of the reason for her vindictiveness. The union wants me to sue her however I don't know what to do to protect myself without having to go through a court battle. How do you prove that this is sexual harassment instead of she said/she said!? I am afraid I am going to loose my job, my livelihood, my career and my reputation. I feel as if I am about to loose everything I have!
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Sexual Harassment by a School District Coordidnator
The union wants me to sue her however I don't know what to do to protect myself without having to go through a court battle. How do you prove that this is sexual harassment instead of she said/she said!? I am afraid I am going to loose my job, my livelihood, my career and my reputation.
The above quotation from your question, if accurate, is part of your answer. It is rare enough to have Union support in a situation like this, which perhaps means that there have been other complaints about the coodinator.
If you pursue theoptions available through your union, you will not be going to court directly, and you will be protected from termination because to fire you in the midst of union grievance proceedi9ngs would be retaliation.
If you are fired anyway, you may ultimately have to go through an investigatory procedure by the Division of Human Rights, but the process is Union first, then Division of Human Rights and EEOC, and only then court.
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