Over the next six weeks, again unbeknownst to me, Dallas ISD had already made the decision to terminate me. Not one District employee contacted me during that time for any additional input. By May 27, 2022, one Dallas ISD employee called me and offered me the opportunity to resign in lieu of being terminated, which I declined. I immediately requested access to the evidence obtained during their investigation and I was informed to submit a public information request to the District’s Legal Services Department. See May 25 2022 Letter to Bravo.
The problem extends beyond the initial refusal to disclose evidence. Requests seeking information regarding employee complaints, discrimination grievances, investigative files, disciplinary outcomes, and workforce demographic data are frequently met with objections asserting confidentiality, FERPA protections, burden, or irrelevance. The result is a process in which the District maintained exclusive control over the very information necessary to determine whether similarly situated employees existed.
This District requirement essentially eliminates most employee complaints of District conduct because Dallas ISD is able to divert hundreds of thousands of taxpayer’s dollars meant for educating students to three lawyers paid to protect the District. It’s a very effective tactic as most families and educators can’t afford to lawyer up at a cost of $250 per hour. In spite of these legal hurdles, I have spent over 4 years and over $172,000 to: (1) clear my name; (2) ensure no teacher ever faces this nightmare again; (3) expose the evidence of Dallas ISD administrators multiple policy and statutory violations; (4) expose the undisclosed evidence which had the effect of elevating the student allegations to discriminate; (5) expose the District’s due process violations; (6) expose Dallas ISD’s inconsistent conclusions of job abandonment, resignation, and termination claims; (7) protect current and future students; (8) stop Dallas ISD’s discrimination; (9) expose the District’s approach to handling allegations and investigations to prevent other Texas districts from applying it; and (10) remain a voice for justice until accountability is achieved.