A Black, queer former Los Angeles Unified School District teacher is suing the district, alleging she was terminated earlier this year while on medical leave for a stroke in retaliation for complaining about workplace discrimination that her principal ignored and instead made inappropriate comments herself.
Julie Annette Smith’s Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit allegations include age, sexual orientation, race, gender and disability discrimination, plus harassment, retaliation, failure to accommodate and engage in the interactive process, interference with family leave and retaliation for taking family leave. Smith seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
An LAUSD representative issued a statement Sunday regarding the lawsuit.
“Los Angeles Unified does not comment on pending litigation, (however), we remain firmly committed to fulfilling all legal obligations while prioritizing the best interests of our students and school communities,” the statement read.
Smith was hired as a substitute teacher in March 2017 and then given a full-time position in 2022 working with special-needs students. She was assigned in 2023 to the 75th Street Early Education Center.
Shortly after being hired, other teachers began asking Smith if she was married, to which she replied that she was not, the suit states. Although at that time she did not tell anyone that her sexual orientation was queer, herpreference was somehow discovered and her principal as well as an aide commented that the plaintiff “just wants to be the latest topic” and referred to her as “weird” or “strange,” the suit alleges.
In August 2023, Smith reported that her own classroom aide, a man in his 30s, was confrontational and insubordinate and often left without permission, leaving the plaintiff without a chance to take her rest breaks, according to the suit, which further states that her principal did nothing to correct the problem.
Smith’s aide once told her, “These (lessons) are terrible because you are a woman,” the suit states.
During an arts and crafts activity, children accidentally spilled rice on the floor and one of the aides looked at Smith and said, “Oh, we’re just going to make her old (posterior) pick it up,” according to the suit, which further states the plaintiff considered the comment ageist.
Yet another aide once told Smith, “I’m going to kick your old black (posterior),” the suit states while also stating that her principal once again did nothing to help her when she reported it and instead said, “You are going too slow with this group.”
The lack of action by the principal only made one of the aides actions toward Smith more aggressive, contributing to a hostile work environment, the suit states.
Smith had a stroke in June 2024 and went on medical leave and that same month was suddenly stripped of her access to LAUSD work systems and her work email, the suit states. When she inquired about her employment status in February of this year, human resources told her she was terminated as of June 2024, the suit states.
Smith has suffered lost income as well as emotional distress since losing her job, according to the suit.