The city of New York has agreed to pay a total of $2.1 million to three white Department of Education executives who were demoted under ex-Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza and replaced by less-qualified people of color. The executives – Lois Herrera, Jaye Murray, and Laura Feijoo – will each receive $700,000 as part of the settlement. Their lawyer, Davida Perry, described the case as a landmark affirmation that discrimination of any form should not be tolerated in educational institutions, regardless of the race of those impacted.
The lawsuit was filed five years ago and alleged that Carranza was on a crusade against “toxic whiteness” in the Department of Education. Herrera, who had a Harvard master’s degree, was demoted from her position as CEO of the Office of Safety and Youth Development and replaced by a Black man who was deemed less qualified. Murray, who was the executive director of the Office of Counseling Support Programs, was also demoted and given reduced duties. Feijoo, who oversaw 46 DOE superintendents, was replaced by someone who did not possess the required NY licensing.
The internal DOE email from the then-chief operating officer mentioned that Mayor de Blasio, who appointed Carranza as chancellor in 2018, was “fixated on diversity.” Both de Blasio and Carranza claimed in sworn depositions that they sought to hire the most qualified candidates but also wanted leaders who “looked like New York City.” The women who were demoted felt justified and vindicated by the resolution of the legal battle and hope that shedding light on the DOE’s policies will help other institutions understand the importance of treating individuals with dignity and fairness.
The three women involved in the case reached a settlement three months after a judge ruled that they had evidence of race-based discrimination in Carranza’s DOE. Their replacements were allegedly handpicked without the positions being advertised, and other candidates were not interviewed. Carranza resigned from his position in February 2021, and De Blasio left office at the end of 2021. The city admitted no wrongdoing in the settlement, and a spokesman for the Law Department stated that the DOE and City are fully committed to fair and inclusive employment practices, maintaining that the claims lacked merit but settling the case was in the best interest of all parties.
The settlement in this case serves as a reminder that discrimination should not be tolerated in any form within educational institutions. The payment to the three white executives emphasizes the importance of fair treatment and inclusion, regardless of race. The women involved in the case hope that their experience will lead to a better understanding of the importance of treating individuals with dignity and fairness. The settlement also highlights the need for transparency and merit-based hiring practices in order to create a more equitable work environment for all employees.
Overall, the outcome of this case underscores the significance of addressing discrimination in the workplace and the importance of ensuring that all employees are treated fairly and given equal opportunities for advancement. The settlement serves as a victory for the three white executives who were unfairly demoted and provides a lesson for other institutions on the need for inclusivity and diversity in employment practices. The case sheds light on the challenges of navigating issues of race and discrimination in educational institutions and the importance of upholding principles of fairness and equality in the workplace.
