Teacher targets Larke in lawsuit

Rejected sexual advances led to retaliation by Richmond County schools Superintendent Charles Larke, a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday alleges.

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In 2001, Dr. Larke invited teacher Lori Myles to go to Jamaica with him and other educators on school business, according to the lawsuit filed against the superintendent and the school board. Ms. Myles claims that while on that trip, Dr. Larke made "certain advances of a sexual and intimate nature," which she rejected.

Since then, she has applied for assistant principal, principal and other positions as they became vacant, but the superintendent never recommended her for those promotions, the lawsuit said. Ms. Myles met the advertised requirements for those positions and wasn't promoted, while on "various occasions" employees not meeting those requirements were promoted to those positions.

Dr. Larke's actions were done with "malice and reckless intent," the lawsuit said.

Ms. Myles complained to the school board and the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, the agency that issues teaching certificates, about the practices, the lawsuit said.

"Following plaintiff's complaints, she was told by Larke that she should refrain from speaking out or otherwise making such complaints about the hiring practices taking place within the school district if she wanted to receive a promotion," the lawsuit said. "Larke has failed to recommend plaintiff for any new positions as a means of retaliating against her for speaking out against the hiring practices of defendants."

Ms. Myles also alleges he further retaliated against her by delaying the reimbursement of $5,000 in work-related expenses and "interfering" in the awarding of a scholarship for her daughter.

The suit requests back pay for the promotion she should have received, interest and punitive damages.

Calls to Dr. Larke for comment weren't immediately returned.

School board attorney Pete Fletcher's office said the lawsuit hadn't been served on them as of Tuesday afternoon and, therefore, wouldn't comment.

According to a Georgia Department of Education database, Ms. Myles is a vocational teacher at T.W. Josey High School and an 18-year veteran of the school system.

In March, the school board lost a federal discrimination lawsuit filed against it and Dr. Larke. Former Principal Ellen Cauthen was awarded $258,000 in that judgment.

Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851 or greg.gelpi@augustachronicle.com.