Former Dewey Principal Settles Lawsuit with District 65
Former Principal Dr. Watson awarded $30,000 in discrimination suit
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I mentioned this story a few days ago regarding a $30,000 payment that District 65 made in January 2024 to a Lawyer’s Client Fund. I found this while compiling my free and available datasets.
This payment was a settlement payment made to Dr. Kimberly Watson, the former Principal of Dewey Elementary, who sued District 65 asserting two counts of discrimination.
The documents are available below:
Complaint filed by Dr. Watson on 6/2/2023
Settlement Agreement on 12/18/2023 (I made some additional redaction)
The complaint makes serious allegations, including:
7. From the beginning, the staff and administration at Dewey Elementary School were hostile towards Plaintiff because she was a Black woman.
8. Indeed, throughout August 2021, Plaintiff was repeatedly told that non-Black teachers and staff members were going to “run me out of the building.”
The complaint goes on to suggest the racism was so bad, she had to hold meetings with the blinds shut because of taunting.
12. Indeed, the white and/or non-Black staff members taunted Black staff members who spoke with Plaintiff, forcing Plaintiff to have to hold meetings with the blinds closed for the protection of Black staffers.
In May 2022, the Dewey PTA held a meeting to discuss changes in teacher staffing;
In response to that meeting, the complaint claims
On or about May 18, 2022, the Parent Teacher Association (“PTA”) hosted a virtual meeting. At that meeting, several staff members made repeated false statements about Plaintiff and her actions. Staff members told parents that teachers needed parents’ help removing Plaintiff.
These false statements were solely because the staff refused to work for a Black woman.
That night, Plaintiff wrote to her superintendent to advise him of what had transpired at the PTA meeting.
The next day, May 19, 2022, Dr. Horton, Superintendent of Dewey; Dr. Andalib Khelgati (Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources); Mr. Little (Assistant Superintendent of Schools); and Elijah Palmer (Director of School Climate) requested that Plaintiff take a leave of absence until July 1, 2022.
The complaint goes on to include claims about the Board, including at least one Board member siding with Dr. Watson;
Later that day, Plaintiff met with three of the PTA presidents, as well as Mr. Little, Mr. Palmer, and District 65 Board Member Joseph Hailpern. In that meeting, Mr. Hailpern stated that District 65 staff and PTA had been racist towards Plaintiff, and told the presidents that their actions towards Plaintiff were the result of systemic racism.
She was demoted to Assistant Principal and appealed her demotion, receiving support from at least two members of the Board.
43. On or about June 13, 2022, Plaintiff appealed the demotion in a closed session school board meeting, citing the investigation. Notably, two members of the Board referenced similar treatment they had received from staff at Dewey.
Eventually, Ms. Watson resigned on July 13, 2022.
She sued for two counts of discrimination and sought damages of $500,000. The board reached a settlement for $30,000 in December 2023. The settlement agreement contains language denying the assertions of the above complaint and can be read at this link.
WHEREAS, the BOARD denies all allegations of unlawful conduct, including the allegations set forth in the Charges and the Lawsuit; and
WHEREAS to avoid the potential expense, inconvenience, delay, and uncertainty of litigation, the Parties have agreed to settle and fully resolve all disputes or claims between them, including without limitation all disputes or claims that were or could have been raised in the Charges and the Lawsuit, or that otherwise relate to or out of WATSON’s former employment with the BOARD, through the date on which she signs this Agreement.
I’m disappointed that she robbed our students of $30,000! As a parent, I had an open mind when Dr. Watson came, but she didn’t come outside to interact with parents or out of her office to interact with students. A few months into the school year my 3rd grader referred to Dr. Watson as a recluse. It bothered her that the principal didn’t want to get to know them like their previous principal (Mrs. Sokolowski) had. Watson would have online chat & chews once a month but only sent the link for it the first time. There after she sent a reminder of the chat & chew with no link, which seems to me like she didn’t want parents to show up, and after a couple months, they didn’t. She also wouldn’t let parents in the building, and she canceled our outdoor school picnic, even though other schools like Washington got to have theirs. When word got out that she referred to Spanish as gibberish to the TWI teachers, that was definitely the last straw. She had to go.
Really, I blame Dr. Horton for this whole thing. Under his leadership, we lost a lot of good principals, and it seems like the new ones aren’t the interacting with the community type. Gone are the days of principals who write newsletters from the heart, wish happy birthday to students during morning announcements, keep morale up with their teachers & staff, interact with students, stand outside during drop-off and pick-up and actually talk to parents. It definitely feels like something is missing.
As a former Dewey teacher who taught under Dr. Watson during the school year in this lawsuit- I can absolutely, confidently say this is completely ludicrous. Don't believe everything you read. Shame on Dr. Watson for tarnishing the name of the Dewey community and outstanding group of educators that work in that building. No one was out to get her- we were out to find an administrator that cared more about the students in the building than the outfits she wore to school. Who showed up to legal IEP meetings, visited classrooms and knew students names. Someone who accepted, welcomed and learned about the beautiful different cultures and backgrounds of our students, families and staff that were different than her own. Shame on her. If you are ever lucky enough to send your child to Dewey to be taught by the most phenomenal group of educators- you'll quickly see how absurd this whole article is.