PHILADELPHIA — A Black LGBTQ teacher with the School District of Philadelphia alleges she faced discrimination and retaliation.
Ciana Evans filed a complaint April 11 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against the School District of Philadelphia alleging civil rights violations and other cliams.
According to her complaint, Evans, an African American female and LGBTQ, was appointed as a teacher on July 4, 2020, and served at Delaplaine McDaniel School. She claims that in June of 2021, the principal, Betsaida Ortiz, notified her that she was suspended without pay for "unsatisfactory performance/ineffective teaching."
She claims she was suspended due to her race, sex, disabilities which include diabetes and anxiety and in retaliation for her complaints regarding discrimination. Evans alleges that Ortiz continually harassed and discriminated against women of color and women in the LGBTQ community.
She further alleges Ortiz spoke to her in a hostile manner, failed to provide her with the curriculum and materials for her class and called her "stupid" and a "smart-ass." Evans also claims Ortiz came into her class and was rude, disruptive and interrogated her in front of her students and that Ortiz terminated her in May of 2021, in retaliation for requesting reasonable accommodations for her disability.
Evans seeks monetary relief, trial by jury and all other just relief. She is represented by Robert Vance of The Law Offices of Robert T. Vance Jr., in Philadelphia.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania case number 2:22-CV-01410-MAK