Employee sues over fallout from professional development training

A physical education teacher at Hartford Public Schools has filed a lawsuit over an investigation that stemmed from a professional development training seminar the teacher complained about by allegedly using inappropriate and offensive language.

Training and investigation

The teacher claims he was required to attend a professional development training about privilege. He believed the training “targeted a certain class of people, including him” and other “straight, white, Christian male[s].”

As part of a breakout session during the training, the teacher purportedly told the other professionals in his breakout group he felt “man-bashed and white-shamed” and that he was “not buying into this white-bashing BS.” In a post-training survey, he allegedly wrote the training was “part of the Superintendent’s agenda to advance her career.” He denied using inappropriate language or engaging in misconduct.

An investigation ensued. Two of the professionals who were in the teacher’s breakout group indicated “disagreement or offense” with the teacher’s statements, and the teacher was accused of using inappropriate and offensive language during the breakout group. He denied the allegation.