San Diego Teacher Awarded $1M

Posted by Barbara Pytel Feb 8, 2008

Probationary Teacher

Probationary teachers may be dismissed without reason. That is not what the jury decided happened. Danielle Coziahr was teaching third grade at Silver Wing Elementary School in Otay Mesa in 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. In May 2005, Coziahr received a favorable job evaluation from her principal two months after the birth of a child. She was asked to serve on the leadership team. It sounded like she was on her way.

New Principal

Alex Cortes, new principal, arrived for the 2005-2006 school year. On the first day of school, Coziahr asked for a private, locked room in which she could pump breast milk. Cortes waited two days to give her the room. By the end of the first week, she was no longer on the leadership team. The rest of the year continued to be stressful with a retaliation pattern that continued without end.

No Longer a Good Teacher

Cortes gave Coziahr a poor recommendation stating she was not effective teaching language arts and students were not engaged in her class. Test scores also declined.

Blackballed

When Coziahr tried to get a different job in several school over the next 18 months. She found that no one would hire her within a reasonable driving distance. It is then that she took legal action against the school.

Jury Decision

The jury did not buy the fact that Coziahr suddenly became a poor teacher. Jury members also decided that the new principal was discriminatory against her because of her needs as a woman. And, since the actions of the school prevented her from teaching, she was awarded $1,012,720. This amount covered

• Coziahr's future income
• pain and suffering

Chila Vista Superintendent Lowell Billings and the school board are to meet to discuss options -- to accept or appeal.

Source: Chris Moran, signonsandiego.com, 12-11-07.

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