Somerville, NJ – A special education teacher from Somerville has taken legal action against the Somerville Public School District, claiming she endured ongoing sexual harassment carried out by a school security officer. The lawsuit was filed in Somerset County Superior Court on February 7 by the special education instruction assistant at Van Derveer Elementary School.
According to the lawsuit, the security officer named George Fazio subjected the plaintiff to repeated harassment both inside and outside of school. Allegations include Fazio making unwelcome comments, sending unwanted text messages, following her to her car, writing love letters, and using school surveillance cameras to stalk her.
The lawsuit states that the harassment began in late 2022 and the plaintiff requested Fazio to cease all contact in January 2023. The teacher claims to have reported the harassment to the district administration, providing copies of text messages from Fazio where he admitted to watching her on the surveillance cameras and expressed romantic feelings for her. Additionally, the teacher alleges she received retaliation from the school district in the form of changes to her employment conditions and false accusations of wrongdoing. This retaliation allegedly included being moved to preschool, false accusations of improper communication with parents and a former student, as well as a pretextual substandard review.
The lawsuit also asserts that the district acted unlawfully by retaliating against the plaintiff for reporting and objecting to conduct that violated the law and public policy. As a result, the teacher is seeking compensatory damages, including lost wages and benefits, damages for emotional distress, punitive damages, and attorney fees.
At the time of reporting, the Somerville Public School District had not responded to requests for comment on the matter.
As this case unfolds, it highlights the importance of addressing and preventing sexual harassment in educational settings. Efforts need to be made to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all individuals involved in the education system. The outcome of this lawsuit could potentially have implications for how schools handle and address such issues in the future.