Teacher reprimanded for her ‘crying spells’ in class was forced to quit, NJ lawsuit says
A teacher was forced to quit her job after she was reprimanded over anxiety and stress causing “crying spells” in a class with special education students, a lawsuit filed in New Jersey says.
Sarah Barlow, of West Orange, is suing the School District of South Orange and Maplewood, the former district she taught at after resigning in November 2022, arguing she was discriminated against.
When Barlow was transferred to a classroom including special education students after teaching kindergarten, the school never assigned her an aide despite her several complaints about not having one, the lawsuit says.
This was unlawful and “exacerbated” her anxiety, which she receives medical treatment for and is recognized as a disability under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, according to a complaint filed Dec. 22 in Essex County Superior Court.
The situation escalated when the district’s principal sent her a letter “admonishing” her “crying spells” in class and notified her of an upcoming corrective plan for her behavior, the complaint says. It notes that Barlow previously faced “resistance” from the principal as a kindergarten teacher.
“Unfortunately, due to the District’s failure to address her complaints of unlawful behavior and complete disregard for her disability and mental health, Ms. Barlow was forced to resign,” the complaint says.
The district’s Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ronald Taylor told McClatchy News that he cannot comment on matters involving school personnel or ongoing litigation.
What led up to the case?
When Barlow was a kindergarten teacher during the 2019-2020 school year, she was “met with resistance” twice from the district principal over how to handle two students’ separate needs, the complaint says.
In 2021, an anonymous letter sent to Taylor accused the principal of an inappropriate relationship with another teacher, according to the complaint, which says the principal believed Barlow sent the letter.
Afterward, Barlow was transferred to teach a new classroom with special education students for the 2022-2023 school year, the complaint says. This is when she said she wasn’t assigned an aide and began experiencing heightened anxiety.
In October 2022, the principal characterized Barlow’s “crying spells” in class as “unprofessional” in the letter he sent her, according to the complaint.
Following this, Barlow’s therapist ordered her to take a six-week medical leave because of the anxiety and stress before she ultimately quit on Nov. 1, the complaint says.
Barlow is suing on several counts, including violations of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.
The lawsuit argues that she was discriminated against when the school district perceived she was unable to perform her job properly because of her anxiety.
She is seeking to recover damages and back pay, and demands a trial by jury.
The School District of South Orange and Maplewood is about 20 miles west from New York City.
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