Special Education Teacher Sues Clark County School District Over Violent Assaults
A special education teacher has initiated legal action against the Clark County School District (CCSD), claiming negligence in protecting her from a student who allegedly assaulted her multiple times during her pregnancy. The lawsuit, filed this past Sunday in District Court, centers on accusations of harassment linked to sex and pregnancy, as well as violations of the Nevada Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.
Details of the Lawsuit
The plaintiff, Sydne Faith Yanez, who teaches at Cambeiro Elementary School, is seeking monetary damages and a jury trial. She demands relief from ongoing failures to accommodate pregnant staff members and any other remedies deemed appropriate by the court.
Incident Sequence and Allegations
According to the court documents, Yanez notified CCSD in August 2023 that her pregnancy was categorized as “high risk,” while still asserting her ability to perform essential job functions with reasonable accommodations. However, shortly after, on August 7, she reported that a student became “uncontrollably violent” and allegedly punched her in the stomach at least ten times. Notifications to the principal and the student’s parents yielded no intervention, as the parents reportedly refused to remove their child from school.
Subsequent incidents reinforced Yanez’s claims. On August 21, the same student reportedly struck her in the stomach again. Despite her requests to either have the student removed from her classroom or to be reassigned to a safer environment, her appeals were reportedly ignored.
Ongoing Safety Concerns
On September 14, another student allegedly scratched or bit Yanez, prompting further requests for removal or accommodation. Yanez included medical documentation to support her need for these adjustments, yet the district allegedly continued to deny reasonable accommodations.
Final Straws
The situation escalated further on October 18, when the initial student again punched her multiple times in the stomach. An administrator from CCSD witnessed the assault yet reportedly failed to take proper action, subsequently filing a false report claiming the student exhibited no behavioral issues on that day.
Remarkably, on October 24, this same student was reported to have urinated on themselves and was observed vandalizing the school bathroom. Yanez’s principal, Brandi Pineda, and Area Superintendent Robert Solom witnessed this scene unfold. Although the area superintendent attempted to address the situation, the student’s parents did not cooperate, allowing the student to remain in Yanez’s class for the remainder of the academic year.
Clark County School District’s Response
As the lawsuit is ongoing, the Clark County School District has declined to make any comments regarding the allegations.
Conclusion
This case highlights ongoing concerns regarding workplace safety and the treatment of pregnant employees within educational settings. As Yanez pursues legal redress, she aims not only for personal compensation but also for broader protections for pregnant workers in similar environments.
For more information, contact Katie Futterman at [email protected]. Follow her on X @ktfutts and on Bluesky @katiefutterman.bsky.social.