Teacher claims school district retaliated against her after she reported students were sexually harassed

PARK CITY, Utah — A former Parley’s Park Elementary School teacher has filed a Title IX lawsuit against the Park City School District.

Kathy Moore alleges the school retaliated against her after she reported that students had been sexually harassed. 

Moore was hired for a one-year contract at Parley’s Park Elementary School. In December 2020, several months into her contract, a few of her female students alleged they were being sexually harassed by a male peer on the playground.  

According to a court filing, Moore reported the allegations to the school’s principal. The principal instructed Moore to segregate the class on the basis of gender, with boys on one side of the classroom and girls on the other.

This was a way to separate the girls in the classroom from the boy who allegedly harassed the girls. The school received several complaints from parents about the arrangement. 

A few weeks after Moore reported her students’ claims, and students were seated according to their gender, Moore was transferred to a different elementary school. The court filing says along with this move, she was given a new title: “permanent substitute teacher.”

A few months later, Moore received a non-renewal letter informing her that her one-year contract would not be extended. 

Moore’s lawyer noted her 25 years of teaching experience as a testament to her qualifications for the job and for other open positions in the district that she wasn’t hired for. 

The lawsuit alleged the school district retaliated against her because she reported the sexual harassment, and by not renewing her contract or hiring her for those other positions.

A spokesperson for the Park City School District told KSL TV the district has not been served on this matter. Without any pending litigation, the district doesn’t provide comment. Therefore, the district has not yet offered a comment. 

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