Ex-teacher, York High School settle lawsuit over alleged anti-LGBTQ discrimination

YORK, Maine — A former York High School special education teacher has settled her lawsuit against the school department that alleged she was discriminated against because she is gay.

Michele Figueira filed the federal lawsuit in July alleging the York School Department violated Title VII, which prohibits employers from discriminating against an employee based on sexual orientation. She claimed she was discriminated against during her employment with the school district from 2018 to 2021 because she was a lesbian. When she complained, she alleged the administration created a retaliatory environment and did not renew her contract in 2021.

Figueira and the school district reached a settlement March 13 in federal court. Figueira's attorney, Laura White, said Tuesday she and her client could not comment on the settlement.

York Superintendent Tim Doak, who was hired after Figueira’s departure from the school, said he could not comment on the terms of the settlement but that both sides were satisfied.

“After Wednesday's court mediation, the parties reached a settlement agreement to their mutual satisfaction and will not provide further comment,” Doak said in an email Tuesday. He said a copy of the settlement agreement could be provided at a later date when the school district receives a copy from the court.

Figueira was a special education teacher for nearly 20 years when she filed the lawsuit with the York School Department alleging discrimination based on sexual orientation. She alleged her supervisor, who no longer works at the school district, made inappropriate comments about her being a lesbian.

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Figueira's suit alleges she heard discriminatory comments from her supervisor that were “degrading and humiliating remarks about her sexuality.” When she revealed to her supervisor she was married to a woman, Figueira alleges her supervisor replied, “Duh, you didn’t think I knew that?” She also asked if Figueira and her wife had “roles” in their relationship, according to Figueira, and asked her about identifying other gay teachers.

Figueira also alleged her supervisor intentionally placed her with students who were gay or had gay parents.

According to the lawsuit, Figueira first filed a complaint with school administrators in May 2020. The school department, she said, gave her supervisor a written warning for acting inappropriately.

The lawsuit alleges the same supervisor then began singling Figueira out for additional scrutiny and discipline.

Prior to filing a lawsuit, Figueira filed a complaint with the Maine Human Rights Commission, which found some of her claims had reasonable grounds. They agreed Figueira faced discrimination but found no grounds to believe the school retaliated against her. The votes were not unanimous, as two of the five commissioners voted in support of the retaliation allegation.

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The school’s attorney, Kathleen Wade, told the commission the school department found Figueira was not “collegial” in her behavior, resulting in violations and the department's decision not to offer her a new contract. Wade told commissioners the school investigated Figueira’s complaint swiftly and took action.

Figueira, in the spring of 2023, said she did not expect to file a lawsuit because of a lack of funds. She changed her mind in July and filed the suit, demanding a jury trial and asking the court to award her damages. The damages were in the form of lost back pay, front pay, liquidated damages, attorney’s fees, costs and expenses, equitable and injunctive relief and “all other relief afford to her by law.”

“Ms. Figueira is a talented educator, and she was an asset to the York School District,” Figueira’s attorney, Laura White, said at the time of the filing. “She intends to hold the district accountable for the outrageous discrimination and retaliation alleged in the case.”

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Ex-teacher, York High School settle anti-LGBTQ discrimination lawsuit