If it’s not written down, it didn’t happen.

by Andrea Payne | Mar 5, 2020 | Ed311, Events, Fresh Ideas, Personnel

Paperwork is the bane of the educator’s existence. It is also one of the larger parts of that existence. And it isn’t going away, even if most of it’s not done with actual pen and paper but with a touch screen or a keyboard. Like paperwork, teacher appraisals are a...

Appeals Court Upholds Judgment for District in Free Speech and Whistleblower Suit

by Jennifer Childress | Mar 4, 2020 | Legal Developments, Personnel

The Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently considered a suit filed by a terminated public elementary school principal and assistant principal against Northside Independent School District and its superintendent.  The suit, Powers v. Northside Indep. Sch....

Although it was “disturbing”, the 15-year athletic director’s reassignment to a teacher position was permissible under his administrator contract

by Jennifer Childress | Feb 12, 2020 | Legal Developments, Personnel

The Commissioner of Education recently found permissible the Caddo Mills ISD’s reassignment of its Athletic Director to a teaching position at the district’s alternative school.  Mr. Sumrow was employed by the district and held a two-year term contract for the...

College District Employee Allowed To Proceed With Disability Discrimination & Retaliation Suit

by Jennifer Childress | Apr 18, 2018 | Legal Developments, Personnel

After Christy Williams was terminated from her position at the Tarrant County College District (TCCD), she filed suit for discrimination, failure to accommodate, and retaliation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Texas Commission on Human Rights...

Policies Prohibiting Teacher And Student Protests Found Unconstitutional

by Jennifer Childress | Feb 28, 2018 | Legal Developments, Personnel

This week, every public school in West Virginia was shut down due to a teacher’s strike. Teacher protests, such as the one in West Virginia, implicate First Amendment rights. When can a school district enforce restrictions on teacher and student speech in these...

Appeals Court Affirms Dismissal Of First Amendment Suit By School Nurse

by Jennifer Childress | Feb 6, 2018 | Legal Developments, Personnel

Lori Rayborn was a high school nurse when a student committed suicide due to alleged school bullying.  The student was diabetic and Rayborn had worked closely with the student to provide medical care.  Rayborn documented fluctuations in the student’s glucose levels in...