A former educator has won the right to pursue legal action against New York City, alleging that the de Blasio administration allowed “racial harassment” directed toward white employees within the public school system during anti-bias training and in regular workplace interactions, a ruling from a federal appeals court revealed this week.
This significant ruling on Thursday reversed a previous decision by a lower court, which had dismissed Leslie Chislett’s 2019 lawsuit. Chislett, a long-time administrator and leader of the Advanced Placement for All initiative at the city’s Department of Education, may now proceed to trial or seek a financial settlement with the city.
The three-judge panel of the US 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals stated, “She provided evidence sufficient for a reasonable jury to determine that the DOE consistently overlooked racial harassment towards white staff during ‘implicit bias’ training sessions and in everyday work interactions.”
Chislett expressed mixed emotions regarding the ruling.
“While this decision from the higher court is a long-deserved vindication, it doesn’t bring back the career that I cherished and thrived in,” she told The Post.
She added, “I recognized at the time that the actions of the DOE and its willing leaders were profoundly divisive and illegal,” claiming that the policies of former Mayor Bill de Blasio and then-Chancellor Richard Carranza resulted in her “daily humiliation and ridicule,” deeply impacting her life.
The judges highlighted various instances, including a senior executive from the DOE’s Office of Equity and Access stating in a diversity training session: “There’s white toxicity in the air, and we all breathe it in.”
Throughout the 2018 trainings, the judges noted that Chislett faced negative stereotypes, being accused of exhibiting characteristics associated with white supremacy.
“When Chislett managed or disciplined her subordinates, she was often labeled as a racist and referred to as ‘white and fragile,’” the ruling mentioned.
An underling reportedly lashed out, “How dare you approach me from your position of white privilege!” after Chislett inquired about a staff member’s tardiness to a meeting.
According to Chislett, multiple higher-ups, including then-Deputy Chancellor LaShawn Robinson, dismissed her repeated complaints about the hostile work environment, which ultimately became “intolerable,” prompting her to take medical leave and ultimately leave her position.
The ruling indicated, “A reasonable jury could conclude that the administration tolerated this racial harassment.”
Chislett’s attorney, Davida Perry, commented, “Today’s ruling signifies that any form of racial discrimination will be intolerable.”
Perry had also represented three other white former DOE administrators who jointly filed a lawsuit against the DOE, claiming that Carranza favored less qualified candidates of color over them.
The city settled with the trio in April 2024 for a total of $2.1 million, or $700,000 each.
Perry noted that she has not initiated any similar legal actions during Mayor Adams’ tenure, stating, “The policy we contested was established under Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Carranza. As of now, we have not encountered equivalent complaints.”
Both de Blasio and Carranza have refuted claims of anti-white policies. The city’s Law Department, to which the DOE deferred inquiries, opted not to comment.
