TACOMA — A veteran Tacoma Public Schools teacher claims she was discriminated against because of her age, race and sex when she was passed over for a non-advertised job that went to a less-experienced colleague.
Betty Williams, who is Black and over the age of 70, sued the school district on Tuesday in Pierce County Superior Court, alleging that she also faced retaliation after reporting the purported discrimination to district officials. TPS’s human resources director and the principal of Truman Middle School, where Williams worked, were also named as defendants.
“We remain committed to fostering a culture of diversity and inclusivity while implementing hiring practices that attract, retain, and support all staff,” district spokesperson Tanisha Jumper said in a statement Friday. “We take staff displacement decisions seriously and follow the fair and equitable displacement process spelled out in our collective bargaining agreements when we are required to make those decisions.”
Williams, who now works at Tacoma Online — the district’s virtual school — has primarily taught middle school social studies during her more than 25 years at TPS. Prior to the 2020-21 school year, she accepted an offer to teach at Tacoma Online, unaware that she’d lose her seniority at Truman, according to the 12-page complaint.