Medford Educator Sues Former Administrators, Alleging Bias

MEDFORD, MA — An assistant principal at the McGlynn Middle School is suing the former school administration, alleging bias and retaliation as she was repeatedly passed over for promotions within the district.

Jody Liu filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court March 19. It names former superintendent Roy Belson, former deputy superintendent Beverly Nelson and the city of Medford – Medford Public Schools.

An attorney for the district did not respond to a Patch request for comment.

Liu, a Medford native who has worked for the district since 1988, claims she was turned down for assistant principal roles at the Andrews Middle School, Roberts Elementary School and Medford High School in favor of candidates who were less, or equally, qualified. Her suit alleges this was based on her race and gender.

Once she was hired as the assistant principal of the McGlynn Middle School for the 2017-18 school year – which the lawsuit calls "not a highly sought-after position" given the "tumultuous state of the school" at the time – she faced retaliation from administrators for pointing out racial disparities in disciplinary actions taken toward students, the suit alleges.

Liu claims she faced retaliatory action, including being excluded from meetings and given increasing, unclear tasks, after reporting that then-principal Jake Edwards failed to suspend two white students, "while suspending a student of color for conduct equal to/lesser than that engaged in by the white students."

She also alleges the central administration threatened her with a negative performance review when, while performing the duties of a principal after Edwards was suspended for his handling of the discovery of a gun magazine in the auditorium, she requested her salary and role be formally updated to that of principal.

Liu filed complaints with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), as well as sought help from the city. She alleges the city failed to adequately investigate and respond to her claims.

According to the suit, Liu faced further abuse after it became "abundantly clear" that her colleagues knew about her complaint with the city: "others joined in on the hostile treatment; and still others simply continued and/or escalated their hostile behavior, which now included disparaging and false rumors that Ms. Liu was 'crazy' and had been 'demoted.'"

Anne Glennon, an attorney for Liu, said her client tried to resolve the matter internally before filing her suit.

"Ms. Liu and I are very confident in the merits of the matter," Glennon wrote in an email to Patch. "We firmly believe that had Ms. Liu been treated equitably based upon her credentials; performance in, and commitment to, the Medford Public Schools over the past three decades; and her lifelong connection and commitment to Medford as a whole, she would not have been subjected to discrimination and retaliation, and we would not be where we are today."

Liu received a Right to Sue letter from the EEOC in February. Her complaint with the MCAD was dismissed after withdrawal.

"Liu suffered loss of income and benefits, emotional distress, damage to her reputation, and attorney’s fees as a result of the Defendants actions and failures to act," the suit claims.