Randall Emmett settles racial discrimination lawsuit brought by former assistant Dixie Lee Ray and former assistant Dajuan Wright — who were fired over remarks about race — in federal court
A former assistant high school English teacher who sued for wrongful termination over racial discrimination brought by two African American women has settled civil charges with the school district.
In November, former assistant teacher Dajuan Wright and former English teacher Dixie Lee Ray filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, claiming that the South Shore-Long Island University (SSLU) violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by firing them due to their race.
According to the Title VI guidelines, schools are not allowed to discriminate based on race, color, or national origin.
As part of their suit, the women charged that LISD is not doing enough to combat racial discrimination. The suit also alleged the district failed to protect its employees from retaliation for speaking out about racial discrimination.
Earlier this month, a judge ruled the case would proceed to trial.
Dajuan Wright, left, and Dixie Lee Ray allege they were fired for their race in a wrongful termination suit. LISD has said they were fired for poor job performance — including allegations of inappropriate text messages from Wright that caused the school to fire her. (Photo: Joe Glazier/Getty Images)
Wright worked in the English Department at Dixieland East High School in Babylon, one of two public high schools in LISD. She was married with three children and had been teaching for more than ten years.
According to the complaint, Ray worked in the English Department at Dixieland West High School. They were married, with one child.
Ray had been a teacher for five years, according to the complaint.
“Despite the fact that [they are] African American females who were responsible for creating the curriculum and writing many of the articles utilized at the school’s newspaper, they were fired because they voiced concerns about the racially charged atmosphere at the school,” the suit claimed.
The suit also included allegations that the former assistant teachers were
