Teacher Sues Frisco School District for Racial Discrimination

DALLAS, May 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A high school teacher and coach has sued the Frisco Independent School District for racial discrimination and retaliation following a dispute over management of the boys and girls track teams.

Alvin Jackson, a World History teacher who also coaches basketball and track at Frisco High School, filed the suit on May 22 in U.S. District Court in Sherman after being notified earlier this year that his contract would not be renewed.

Mr. Jackson, the only African-American coach and core-subject teacher at Frisco High, received a Right to Sue letter from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission after filing a formal complaint over a racially hostile work environment.

"Al Jackson ran headlong into a 'good ol' boy' network, plain and simple," says attorney Joe Kendall of the Kendall Law Group in Dallas, who represents Mr. Jackson. "Someone in Frisco decided they could push him out because of the color of his skin. The law – and common decency – says you can't do that."

According to the lawsuit, problems began shortly after Mr. Jackson arrived at Frisco High in September 2010 and was assigned to coach the girls track team alongside longtime boys track coach Sam Reiter. Before then, the two teams had practiced together, but Mr. Jackson says that once he arrived, Mr. Reiter insisted the two teams train separately.

When Mr. Jackson complained about the new arrangement and his concern that it might be racially motivated, he was told not to file a formal complaint. Afterward, several school officials conducted classroom evaluations and found that Mr. Jackson "suddenly performed below expectations in a majority of the areas," according to the claim. Mr. Jackson's prior job reviews graded him as either proficient or better in all areas.

In January 2012, Mr. Jackson was told by Frisco High Principal Sylvia Palacios that he was not a "good fit" and suggested that he resign in exchange for a letter of recommendation. Mr. Jackson later was told that his contract would not be renewed for the 2013 school year.

The Kendall Law Group is a trial firm that represents people in lawsuits against companies, in cases involving employment discrimination, securities fraud and other issues. Visit the firm's website at http://www.kendalllawgroup.com.

For more information on the Jackson case, please contact Mark Annick at 800-559-4534 or [email protected].

SOURCE Kendall Law Group