BATON ROUGE, La. – A Louisiana man claims he was subjected to “adverse employment actions” after refusing to participate in a romantic relationship with an East Baton Rouge Parish school system official.
Plaintiff Kenneth Sims filed his lawsuit July 15 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana. The named defendant is East Baton Rouge Parish School Board.
“These actions reflect a coordinated effort to push Plaintiff out of the district in retaliation for rejecting romantic overtures and for reporting misconduct, thus satisfying the elements of a constructive discharge claim,” Sims, a resident of East Baton Rouge Parish, wrote in his seven-page complaint.
Sims alleges the school system violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for unlawful employment practices, sexual harassment, retaliation, and constructive discharge. The Civil Rights Act is a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Sims claims his relationship with Dr. Sandra Bethley, then-director of federal programs for the school system, began as neighbors in August 2021. Then, in 2022, they reconnected during a professional training session.
Bethley learned Sims was seeking new employment and invited him to discuss an opportunity, he claims.
Being neighbors, Sims said he visited her home, where she suggested he apply for a Title I project manager position.
“She emphasized her admiration for his character and caregiving of his mother and expressed personal interest,” the complaint states, adding that Bethley was able to get Sims the position without a formal interview.
Sims said in his filing that Bethley initiated “increasingly personal engagements,” like movie nights, dinners, and invitation to public events.
“Plaintiff declined to develop a personal or romantic relationship with Dr. Bethley and expressed discomfort about appearing with her publicly given her supervisory role,” the complaint states. “Following these rejections, Dr. Bethley became emotionally distant and eventually adversarial.”
Sims claims he reported her behavior to human resources on March 14, 2023, and followed up with the department that April and May.
But he contends a “slew of retaliatory actions” followed.
For one, Sims claims he was accused of violating timekeeping protocols despite a spotless employment history.
“These allegations were not disclosed through any formal investigation or direct notice, and Plaintiff was instead disciplined via email directives and passive-aggressive messaging,” the complaint states.
Sims was placed on administrative leave, and then reassigned to Belaire High School as a “time-out moderator” – what he describes as an “abrupt and humiliating demotion” from his prior administrative role.
He said he was later moved to Glen Oaks as a parent liaison, then to Arlington School, and finally to a teaching role at an alternative school, with each transition occurring without prior notice or justification, he noted in the filing.
The salary reductions also were “drastic,” Sims claims.
He went from earning $91,500 in 2023 to $49,000, followed by a new job paying $63,000, in 2024. He said the reductions resulted in combined wage losses exceeding $70,000.
Sims claims Larry James, principal at East Baton Rouge Readiness – a group of alternative schools in the school system – acknowledged the “irregularity” of Sims’ constant transfers, but labeled him a “problem” before ordering his removal after only working two weeks.
Sims said he was reassigned to Scotlandville, “where the pattern of instability and loss of wages, culminated in Plaintiff’s resignation,” according to his filing.
“The series of adverse actions, combined with Bethley’s influence over internal decisions and refusal to communicate, created an intolerable work environment and ultimately resulted in Plaintiff’ constructive discharge,” the complaint states.
Sims seeks back pay, front pay, compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees.
Natalie Blackman, an attorney in Baton Rouge, is representing Sims in the action.
