NYC To Pay Over $2M Settlement For Discrimination Against Three White Educators
New York City has agreed to a settlement exceeding $2 million for three white female Department of Education employees, resolving their allegations of being replaced by individuals they deem as “less-qualified people of color.”
The College Fix reported that Lois Herrera, Jaye Murray, and Laura Feijoo are set to receive $700,000 each. This resolution comes after a prolonged wait of five years since the filing of their grievances.
The three white educator’s complaints included the purported advocacy against “toxic whiteness” by former Chancellor Richard Carranza.
Lawyer for the women Davida Perry told The New York Post, “This landmark case is a resounding affirmation that discrimination of any form should not be tolerated in educational institutions, regardless of the race of those negatively impacted.”
She added that the women now “feel justified and vindicated by the resolution of this significant legal battle.”
Lois Herrera, a Harvard-educated professional, asserted that one of Carranza’s deputies unseated her from her position as CEO of the Office of Safety and Youth Development and replaced her with Mark Rampersant, who, as Herrera pointed out, is black and holds a GED.
Murray experienced a demotion from her role as executive director of the Office of Counseling Support Programs, being instructed to report to Rampersant.
Feijoo, formerly overseeing 46 NYC Department of Education (DOE) superintendents, found herself replaced by a black woman who allegedly did not possess the necessary New York licensing at the time.
The lawsuit contends that none of the positions held by the three women were openly advertised as vacant, nor were any candidates interviewed for these roles.
Both Carranza and former NYC mayor Bill De Blasio affirmed their intention to recruit the most qualified individuals during depositions, while also emphasizing the importance of hiring individuals who “looked like New York City.”
The DOE has made no admission of wrongdoing and maintained that the charges brought forth by the women “lack merit.”
A spokesperson from its Law Department reiterated the department’s and the city’s commitment to fair and inclusive employment practices. “The DOE and City are fully committed to fair and inclusive employment practices, and we maintain that these claims lack merit.” the spokesman said.
“Nevertheless, settlement of this long standing case was in the best interest of all parties,” they added.
The College Fix brought attention to a group of “white female executives” within the NYC DOE five years ago who had expressed intentions to sue over what they perceived as the department’s “hostility toward whites” and the effects of Carranza’s “sweeping reorganization.” The women claimed the DOE “pushed aside” Caucasians.
The outlet highlights that sources disclosed to The Post at the time that Carranza allegedly conveyed to white employees that they must surrender power or face diminishing responsibilities regardless of their performance.
Another white female DOE employee, who ironically oversaw efforts to increase minority student enrollment in Advanced Placement classes, filed a lawsuit alleging race discrimination in October 2019. Her allegations included the accusation of “refusing to acknowledge her own white supremacy [and] racism.” She also endured race training conducted by Glenn Singleton and was advised by a colleague to familiarize herself with Robin DiAngelo’s book “White Fragility.”
The College Fix reported that Lois Herrera, Jaye Murray, and Laura Feijoo are set to receive $700,000 each. This resolution comes after a prolonged wait of five years since the filing of their grievances.
The three white educator’s complaints included the purported advocacy against “toxic whiteness” by former Chancellor Richard Carranza.
Lawyer for the women Davida Perry told The New York Post, “This landmark case is a resounding affirmation that discrimination of any form should not be tolerated in educational institutions, regardless of the race of those negatively impacted.”
She added that the women now “feel justified and vindicated by the resolution of this significant legal battle.”
Lois Herrera, a Harvard-educated professional, asserted that one of Carranza’s deputies unseated her from her position as CEO of the Office of Safety and Youth Development and replaced her with Mark Rampersant, who, as Herrera pointed out, is black and holds a GED.
Murray experienced a demotion from her role as executive director of the Office of Counseling Support Programs, being instructed to report to Rampersant.
Feijoo, formerly overseeing 46 NYC Department of Education (DOE) superintendents, found herself replaced by a black woman who allegedly did not possess the necessary New York licensing at the time.
The lawsuit contends that none of the positions held by the three women were openly advertised as vacant, nor were any candidates interviewed for these roles.
Both Carranza and former NYC mayor Bill De Blasio affirmed their intention to recruit the most qualified individuals during depositions, while also emphasizing the importance of hiring individuals who “looked like New York City.”
The DOE has made no admission of wrongdoing and maintained that the charges brought forth by the women “lack merit.”
A spokesperson from its Law Department reiterated the department’s and the city’s commitment to fair and inclusive employment practices. “The DOE and City are fully committed to fair and inclusive employment practices, and we maintain that these claims lack merit.” the spokesman said.
“Nevertheless, settlement of this long standing case was in the best interest of all parties,” they added.
The College Fix brought attention to a group of “white female executives” within the NYC DOE five years ago who had expressed intentions to sue over what they perceived as the department’s “hostility toward whites” and the effects of Carranza’s “sweeping reorganization.” The women claimed the DOE “pushed aside” Caucasians.
The outlet highlights that sources disclosed to The Post at the time that Carranza allegedly conveyed to white employees that they must surrender power or face diminishing responsibilities regardless of their performance.
Another white female DOE employee, who ironically oversaw efforts to increase minority student enrollment in Advanced Placement classes, filed a lawsuit alleging race discrimination in October 2019. Her allegations included the accusation of “refusing to acknowledge her own white supremacy [and] racism.” She also endured race training conducted by Glenn Singleton and was advised by a colleague to familiarize herself with Robin DiAngelo’s book “White Fragility.”
70-79, M
