A guidance counselor in Texas lodged a lawsuit seeking compensation for alleged wrongful termination and damages resulting from defending a special needs student. Gabriana Clay-White, the counselor in question, filed her plea in a Dallas County Court. This case comes to light a year after the incident occurred.
According to reports from WFAA-TV, Clay-White was asked to assist a student with a reading-related disability on May 18, 2022. After an alleged confrontation between the student and a teacher, Clay-White intervened.
In her lawsuit, Clay-White recounts the incident. The student told Clay-White that the teacher had taken his chips and called her “dumb.” The teacher, upon overhearing this, allegedly retorted, “Oh, I’m dumb?” and pulled the chair from underneath the child, causing him to fall.
The incident escalated when the teacher allegedly used a racial slur directed at the student, stating, “Only dumb N-word in this room is the one with the blue shirt who can’t read.” The student was wearing a blue shirt at the time. The teacher is then accused of pulling the child’s chair again, causing a second fall.
Clay-White claims to have escorted the child out of the room after the incident. As they were leaving, the student allegedly attempted to hit the teacher but missed, falling to the ground. The teacher responded by stepping on the child’s chest, further escalating the situation.
Disturbed by the interaction, Clay-White reported the incident to the school and Child Protective Services the following day. She provided a statement to the human resources department on May 20.
However, less than two weeks later, on June 2, Clay-White was informed that she had violated the school’s ethics code. She was given the choice to resign or face termination. The counselor chose to resign the following day. When contacted by WFAA-TV, the school district claimed they were unaware of the lawsuit and couldn’t comment on personnel matters without Clay-White’s consent.
The lawsuit filed by Clay-White seeks back pay, damages, and a retraction of the alleged ethics code violation. It claims that she was forced to resign under duress due to the incident.
This case brings to light the need for stronger protections for educators and students, particularly for those with disabilities. It underscores the importance of maintaining a safe and respectful learning environment for all students.
