Former city schools teacher files discrimination lawsuit

A former Bowling Green Independent School District teacher said in a federal lawsuit that the school district violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, created a hostile work environment and retaliated against her for her disclosure of the allegations.

Shellie Tidball, a former T.C. Cherry teacher, filed suit in U.S. District Court late last month against the school board, superintendent Gary Fields, school principal Kory Twyman, director of personnel Ken May and instructional coach Kristie Downing.

“The defendants displayed an inordinate and deliberate indifference towards Tidball by implicitly forcing her to resign in January 2018,” the suit reads. “The defendants caused extreme emotional distress to Tidball by violating her rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act and criticizing her to the point of severe mental anguish and impairment requiring medical treatment and hospitalization … .”

Tidball is asking a court to award her damages of $1.5 million and attorney’s fees.

Fields, in a written statement, disputes the discrimination allegations in the lawsuit.

“Former employee Shellie Tidball has filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Bowling Green Board of Education and several employees, including myself, alleging a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and other claims. 

“While I cannot comment on the details of pending litigation, Ms. Tidball voluntarily resigned her employment on Jan. 5, 2018. Subsequently, she filed a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on April 9, 2018 making similar allegations.  Within two weeks, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued a dismissal notice of Ms. Tidball’s complaint and stated that based on its investigation, it was unable to conclude that any violation of law had occurred.

“We intend to vigorously defend against Ms. Tidball’s current claims as we strongly believe that we did not discriminate against her in any way,” Fields’ statement read.

Federal court records do not show any upcoming court dates in the lawsuit.