Schools

Lesbian Teacher Says Racine Unified Discriminated Against Her

Halli Stewart says she was treated differently than her heterosexual colleagues.

Editor's Note: After this story was first posted, Racine Unified confirmed a confidential agreement was discussed wtih Stewart, and that it addressed sexual orientation because of a specific situation. We've included input from RUSD in the body of the story.

Despite attempts at reaching a settlement, Halli Stewart has filed discrimination complaints against .

Talks fell apart when the district asked Stewart to sign a statement saying she wouldn't talk to students about her sexual orientation. She is a teacher at Mitchell Middle School.

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β€œThat (request) is discriminatory in itself because they world never ask a straight person that,” Stewart told The Journal Times.

Stacy Tapp, spokesperson for RUSD, however, told Patch the agreement included language about sexual orientation to address a specific matter.

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"During the time when Ms. Stewart claims she was discriminated against, the district believes she was treated fairly and the same as any other staff member," she said.

As accounted in the Journal Times story, Stewart alleges:

  • Her life was threatened by a student, but the child was not removed from her class as requested. When the same student threatened a straight teachers, the request was granted;
  • Former Mitchell principal Leslie Jensen has issues with Stewart taking family medical leave to be with her domestic partner; and
  • Stewart says Jensen penalized her for tardiness when her hetero colleagues got a pass.

Unified responded to the allegations last year, saying Jensen was not aware of Stewart's sexual orientation and that interviews with students led Jensen to believe the student threat was not credible.

A state equal rights officer determined that Stewart was on solid footing and that her complaints led to investigation of her rather than the circumstances. The next step for Stewart is a hearing, but that has not yet been scheduled.


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