News Summary
Jeannette Ashby-Welter, a former instructional coach, has sued Kansas City Public Schools and Principal Hinojosa for age discrimination following her termination. Claiming retaliation for reporting discriminatory practices, she highlights troubling trends faced by older employees within the district. After 37 years in education, she faced unexplained job loss and a lack of communication regarding her contract renewal. The lawsuit raises significant concerns over the treatment of older staff in Kansas City schools.
Kansas City – Jeannette Ashby-Welter, a 68-year-old former instructional coach, has filed a civil lawsuit against Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS) and Principal Luis Hinojosa, alleging age discrimination following her termination. The lawsuit was submitted to the Jackson County Circuit Court on May 13, 2023.
In her complaint, Ashby-Welter asserts that her termination on May 30, 2023, came just one day after she filed a formal complaint about age discrimination to KCPS Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Collier and Human Resources directors Jordan Gordon and Dana Risch. Ashby-Welter claims that her dismissal was a direct retaliation for her complaints regarding discriminatory practices within the school system.
Hinojosa, who became principal at Pitcher Elementary in the 2022-2023 school year, has faced scrutiny for his treatment of older faculty members. The lawsuit points to allegations that he has shown preference for younger female employees and made disparaging comments about older staff, often referring to them by their age. For instance, Hinojosa allegedly expressed a desire to hire a “young blonde” to replace a veteran teacher aged 72 and indicated to a librarian that he wanted a “younger person” for her position.
The lawsuit highlights a troubling trend within KCPS, where a notable number of employees over 50 faced job loss or lack of contract renewal. At the end of the school year, eight employees over 50 were terminated, while an additional seven in the same age bracket either left voluntarily or had their contracts not renewed. In the following school year, five more employees over the age of 50 were terminated. This pattern raises concerns regarding the treatment of older staff and the potential implications of discriminatory practices within the district.
Ashby-Welter, who has an extensive background in education with 37 years of experience, was required to train younger teachers for her duties starting in January 2023. Further complicating her situation, KCPS failed to provide her with timely notification regarding the renewal of her contract, which should have been communicated by April 15, 2023. Despite her proactive efforts—including filing a written complaint of age discrimination to Hinojosa on April 23, 2023—she was ultimately omitted from the staff list for the 2023-2024 school year without prior notice.
Instead of retaining Ashby-Welter, KCPS filled her position with younger and less experienced teachers. Following her concerns regarding her employment status, she did not receive an acknowledgment that her complaints were being investigated. Although the school district communicated that an investigation into her claims was underway, it also indicated that her position had ended, and the role was subsequently listed as “open.” Ashby-Welter applied for her prior role as well as three additional positions but was not selected for any of them.
In her lawsuit, Ashby-Welter is seeking compensation for damages related to age discrimination, retaliation, and emotional distress attributed to her termination. A spokesperson for KCPS, Shain Bergan, stated that they cannot comment on ongoing litigation, but he disputed some claims mentioned in the lawsuit. He clarified that the school district had restructured two part-time instructional coach positions into one full-time role for the upcoming year and claimed that Ashby-Welter was offered a full-time teaching contract but chose not to accept it.
The outcome of Ashby-Welter’s lawsuit could have significant implications for age discrimination policies and practices in Kansas City Public Schools moving forward, especially in relation to the treatment of older employees within the education sector.
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- First Alert: Former St. Louis Sheriff’s Department Employees Allege Age Discrimination
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