Fort Lee Mom Sues District, Claims Teacher Harassed Her Daughter

FORT LEE, NJ — A borough mother is suing the Board of Education for allegedly allowing a white teacher to harass her African-American daughter.

Tyrene Gibson claims in her complaint that Suzanne Keefe-McLaughin, a chemistry teacher at Fort Lee High School, violated her daughter’s civil rights. She also claims the Board of Education “created a hostile environment” that caused her daughter, identified only by her initials “A.G.T.,” to leave the school.

Gibson filed the civil complaint last month in state Superior Court.

Gibson’s daughter was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia at birth. According to the complaint, while teaching a class on Oct. 2, 2017, Keefe-McLaughin allegedly stated, “mothers who are pregnant with children who have sickle cell anemia either have abortions or miscarry.”

“A.G.T.” raised her hand and told Keefe-McLaughin she was incorrect, but Keefe-McLaughin insisted that she was correct, which humiliated her, according to the complaint.

Gibson met with Principal Lauren Glynn Oct. 2, asking her to investigate what happened and discipline Keefe-McLaughin.

Four chemistry grades from the daughter’s classwork were also missing after Keefe-McLaughin supposedly did not enter them into her records, Gibson said in her complaint.

Gibson emailed Glynn and the school guidance office several times about this missing grades. The daughter received zeros on four labs while her partner received “100s,” Gibson said.

Gibson was told her daughter could go into a less advanced chemistry class where labs were not offered, the complaint states. The daughter transferred into that class.

A special faculty meeting about sickle cell anemia led by Sara Donnangelo from Hackensack Meridian Health and others was held Dec. 6; Gibson and her daughter attended the meeting.

After the meeting, Gibson said Keefe-McLaughin approached her daughter in the hallway and asked her if the speakers were there because of what she allegedly said in class, which intimidated her.

Gibson pulled her daughter out of the high school Feb. 28 and enrolled her at Paramus Catholic High School, where she will attend her senior year.

Gibson claims that the district, faculty members, and Superintendent Kenneth Rota knew about the harassment of “A.G.T.” and denied her the chance to attend public school because of it. Gibson also claims her daughter was denied due process because of her race and has experienced “great emotional distress and damages.”

Gibson is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, attorney’s fees, the cost of filing the lawsuit, and “any other relief the court deems proper.”

Rota was not available for comment. District Anti-Bullying Coordinator David Cuozzo did not return an email seeking comment. District Business Administrator Haqquisha Taylor, whom Rota said should be contacted in his absence, did not respond to a request for comment.

Email daniel.hubbard@patch.com

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