A teacher in New York City filed a lawsuit against her school district accusing officials of failing to protect her after she was attacked by a parent last year.
Special needs teacher Jessica Golian, who used to work at PS 84 in New York City Public Schools, claims the district failed to properly protect her after she filed a report of suspected child neglect against a parent in June of 2015.
Prior to filing the report, Golian’s lawsuit claims, the teacher was assured by district officials that her name would not be brought up in their investigation of Jennifer DeJesus, who had two children enrolled at PS 84.
Golian told officials that DeJesus’s children were arriving late to classes smelling like marijuana. Golian is required to report suspicions of child abuse or neglect under state laws.
Several months after making the report, court documents claim DeJesus confronted Golian outside of the school and slammed her to the ground. DeJesus also allegedly smashed Golian’s phone and whispered “I know what you did” in Golian’s ear during the attack.
Golian was treated for serious back and neck injuries following the alleged attack.
DeJesus, who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault, has denied neglecting her children and attacking Golian, according to the New York Post.
Golian’s lawsuit names the city, the Administration for Children’s Services, the district employee who took her complaint and DeJesus as defendants in the lawsuit.
Golian has since been transferred to a different school in the district.
A spokesman for the Administration for Children’s Services stressed the importance of protecting the identity of mandated reporters and said the ACS is investigating the incident.
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