An 18-year-old woman has initiated a $25 million lawsuit against a Long Island school district, alleging that her teacher remains employed despite an internal investigation that confirmed she had subjected the young woman to racist and inappropriate comments.
The lawsuit, filed in Suffolk County Court on September 5th, targets the Middle Country Central School District and accuses Jennifer Brunet, a math teacher at Centereach High School, of multiple instances of "shocking and repugnant misconduct" against Isabella Rexach-Moore, a senior student. Rexach-Moore, a Black student with documented anxiety issues who receives special education accommodations, contends that she was a victim of Brunet's offensive behavior.
One particularly troubling incident occurred in September 2022 when Brunet allegedly remarked to the class, "I can't deal with these Black kids always being absent" during attendance. When Rexach-Moore confronted Brunet about the comment, Brunet reportedly assured her that there would be no consequences.
Additionally, Brunet is accused of singling out Rexach-Moore and body-shaming her by publicly criticizing her clothing, falsely claiming it was inappropriate. The school's assistant principal later confirmed that the girl's outfit was, in fact, appropriate and did not violate the dress code. The lawsuit states that Rexach-Moore felt extremely uncomfortable and anxious during this incident, even seeking refuge in the hallway to alleviate her anxiety.
Later that day, Brunet allegedly further embarrassed Rexach-Moore by commenting, "I guess I was wrong, so you could keep walking around with your midriff out." This comment deeply affected Rexach-Moore, causing her to stay home the following day. When she returned to school, students informed her that Brunet had told them, "I guess if you dress like a slut and I call you out for being a slut, that makes me a racist."
In November 2022, Rexach-Moore's mother filed a complaint under the Dignity For All Students Act (Dignity Act) against Brunet, prompting an investigation led by the school's principal, Thomas Bell. The investigation concluded that the allegations against Brunet were substantiated, with several students confirming they had overheard her offensive remarks.
Despite these findings, Brunet remains employed at the school and continues to engage in inappropriate behavior toward Rexach-Moore, as alleged in the lawsuit.
The targeted racism and mistreatment Rexach-Moore endured have reportedly caused her severe psychological harm, including depression, sleep loss, and a decline in self-esteem.
The lawsuit also includes district superintendent Roberta Gerold and principal Thomas Bell as defendants, asserting that their failure to address the ongoing misconduct has allowed it to persist.
Rexach-Moore is seeking $25 million in punitive damages from the district, as well as additional compensatory damages.