Longoria files suit against SBCISD

By J. NOEL ESPINOZA
Special to the NEWS

Former San Benito Consolidated Independent School District Public Relations Director Celia Longoria filed a lawsuit against the school district last month, claiming age discrimination.

CELIA LONGORIA

Longoria, who worked approximately 22 years in the school district, was terminated from her position on Nov. 7, 2018.

After working for several superintendents and receiving excellent performance evaluations, Longoria’s lawsuit names SBCISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nate Carman as the culprit behind her dismissal.

The lawsuit also claims that the district terminated Longoria without justification. It argues that Carman forced Longoria to resign; otherwise, he would fire her, making it nearly impossible for her to find future employment.

The NEWS could not reach Longoria for comments.

The lawsuit also claims that, before Longoria’s termination, current Public Relations Director Isabel Gonzalez filed a grievance against Longoria, which was allegedly orchestrated by Carman as an excuse.

“After the hiring of Nate Carman, Plaintiff was discriminated against by Defendant who was motivated by her age, as Carman has exhibited a pattern and practice of age discrimination against older employees of the district who had been employed for numerous years until he was hired as superintendent,” the lawsuit reads on the factual background section.

The lawsuit names numerous employees who had faced a similar fate, including Mary Julia Trevino, Margot Torres, Lynda McKinney, Theresa Kitamura, Dr. Dorothy Shelton, Maria Concepcion Cruz, Theresa Servellon, Olivia Flores, Maria Del Carmen Ramos, and former After School Program director Jack Garcia.

According to the lawsuit, all older employees mentioned had been employed for numerous years until Carman was hired as superintendent.

Editor’s note: This article has been edited for length. To read the full story, click here or make sure to grab a copy of the March 13 –19, 2020 issue of the NEWS.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2020/03/17/longoria-files-suit-against-sbcisd/

4 comments

Skip to comment form

    • Rosalinda G. Garcia on March 20, 2020 at 1:11 pm
    • Reply

    I know I previously had contact with someone in a very similar situation as yours. ( two years ago?) At the time I believe Kevin Phillips was allegedly working out of his apartment. I posted on FB how he was the only one interviewed, Hector Madriigal too, for those top positions. SB News tried and tried to confirm where Dr. K. Phillips was. He finally resigned. There seems to be two resignation letters. One stating his plans was to retire later on in spring and another one very immediate. These accepted resignation letters which are part of his file are very questionable to me with leadership at the very top. Why two letters? Did leadership want him to continue to work thru spring from apt.? Please, if legal can help you reach out to them yet I understand your financial crisis. Take care. I am on FaceBook if you would like to contact me with more information. We need to clear all of this unjustifiable decisions/actions coming from the top. Or you make contact me at my email too. rosalindaggarcia@yahoo.com

    • Karma is certainly a @#$@#! on March 17, 2020 at 7:49 pm
    • Reply

    Similar thing happened to me by a campus principal and Kevin Phillips.
    I didn’t get due process and was denied transfer to another campus.

    I lost my job, my benefits, had to withdraw my retirement in 2018 …after looking for other employment.
    I’m now in debt, living on a low paying job and I still pray for justice… I believe in God — Jesus and everything in between.
    So every person running against those board members… Be strong – Stay in the race And win.. and SHIFT EVERYTHING AT THE DISTRICT… I HOPE that principal pays for ruining my career and others before me…because the fact is there are others’ whose careers she ruined before I was at that campus.

      • Rosalinda G. Garcia on March 20, 2020 at 1:59 pm
      • Reply

      To Karma comment. Did you complete Frontline on-line training and did not receive the $500 payment prior to leaving.? Trying to connect the dots?

        • Karma is certainly a @#$@#! on March 20, 2020 at 5:46 pm
        • Reply

        No.. she already had decided not to renew contracts.. and around time they were doing those trainings..the other employee and I..were not allowed..
        We were left out of trainings…those last week’s.. before end of 2018 school year (March-June).
        One day…Before the April board meeting she called me up nearly 5pm…telling me to write a resignation letter and email it to her..
        ( Short version)…I was Caught off guard.. and I refused to resign.. instead I wrote letter…I asked to transfer.. it was denied by her and that FB.. Kevin Phillips.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.