A local woman says she was forced to give up her passion for teaching after suffering from debilitating mental and physical health issues as a result of pervasive workplace discrimination.
Roseann Vennera filed a lawsuit against the School District of Philadelphia in September 2011, alleging the district created a hostile work environment because of her sexual orientation, which she said made it unable to safely continue working in Philadelphia schools. Specifically, Vennera alleged, the district violated the Philadelphia Fair Practices Ordinance, which protects LGBTs from unlawful employment discrimination. The court ultimately found in the district’s favor.
The district did not respond to a request for comment.
Vennera worked as a kindergarten teacher at Samuel Powel Elementary School, in Powelton Village. Her identity as a lesbian was well-known to the school, she said. In fact, Vennera’s partner was also a teacher at Powel.
Vennera said the incident in question began when she was confronted by an angry parent-volunteer during a lunch break in her classroom. The origin of the confrontation is unclear, but the woman threatened Vennera with violence and used profanity, she said.
Several witnesses to the event corroborated this account, according to the lawsuit.
However, during a meeting with then-principal Marguerite Holliday, Holliday issued the conclusion that “Ms. Vennera behaved inappropriately towards a parent-volunteer, yelling and using profane language.”
Vennera contended that Holliday’s actions were based on her personal beliefs against Vennera’s sexuality. Holliday later testified in court, “I do not support the gay lifestyle.”
According to Vennera, a parent-volunteer who witnessed the classroom altercation then began harassing her via text message, which Vennera said she suspected stemmed from an unreciprocated romantic interest in Vennera.
The parent sent texts soliciting Vennera for money for rent, food and phone bills and even made calls to Vennera’s home, according to the suit.
Vennera said she notified the administration at Powel after she was subjected to severe and ongoing harassment by the parent, but that Holliday refused to intervene on her behalf, repeatedly failing to conduct proper investigations of the hostile situation and subjecting her to adverse employment actions.
“I felt the world was against me. I had no protection. It was so obvious what was happening. I had nowhere to go,” Vennera said.
After she filed a complaint with the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations in 2009, the district retaliated, Vennera said, transferring her to Penrose Elementary School and making repeated threats to terminate her disability benefits, according to court documents.
As a result of the mental and physical toll the ordeal took on her, Vennera said, she retired from the district in 2011.
Her lawsuit against the district ultimately was settled in favor of the district — not necessarily because Vennera failed to prove that discriminatory action was taken against her based on her sexuality, but because the district was able to satisfactorily prove that the action was taken for other reasons, mainly that the incidents created a disruptive unsafe school environment, according to Judge Annette Rizzo’s opinion.
“It was crushing,” Vennera said. “I was beyond disappointed.”
Vennera could have appealed, but decided not to.
“I did not appeal.” Vennera said. “I just wanted to put this behind me. It was affecting my health. It still is.”
Vennera and her partner have since relocated to Rehoboth Beach, Del.