Fired Washtenaw Intermediate School District teacher's aide files federal lawsuit

A fired teacher’s aide for the Washtenaw Intermediate School District has filed a federal lawsuit against the district, alleging violations of his civil rights.

Michael Beasley was dismissed from his job as a teacher’s aide in a special education classroom at Scarlett Middle School during the 2008-09 school year after he was criminally charged with child abuse.

Michael Beasley

In the lawsuit, filed earlier this week, Beasley alleges his supervising teacher made “frequent, unsolicited and unwelcome comments and questions to (Beasley) regarding her sex life, plaintiff’s sex life and sexual acts.” The lawsuit said he made complaints about her to his supervisors but was ignored.

The suit also claims Beasley’s supervising teacher “made derogatory comments regarding Indians in plaintiff’s presence. When she made these comments, the classroom supervisor was aware that plaintiff is an Indian.” The lawsuit claims he made complaints to his supervisors but was ignored.

Beasley claims after his classroom supervisor heard about the complaints, he faced retribution.

“Plaintiff’s classroom supervisor falsely accused plaintiff of assaulting a student. Plaintiff’s classroom supervisor encouraged another employee under her classroom supervisor to falsely accuse plaintiff of assaulting a student.

“Plaintiff timely filed a charge of race discrimination, sex discrimination and retaliation with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and brings this action within 90 days of receiving his notice of right to sue.”

WISD spokeswoman Gerri Allen said the WISD had not seen the case and declined to comment on it.

Beasley is still facing criminal charges from the incident. Court records show a jury trial is set for Sept. 20.

David Jesse covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at davidjesse@annarbor.com.