HIV-Positive
Teacher Sues School, Claims Wrongful Firing

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is filing a suit against a Maryland school for allegedly firing a teacher because he is HIV positive.

Chauncey Stevenson, who taught second grade and after school music classes at Chesapeake Academy in Arnold, had been employed from 2003-2006 and received good evaluations from supervisors, reports the Baltimore Sun. His contract was not renewed for the 2006-2007 school year, which caused him to file a complaint with the EEOC. The EEOC filed the suit on after no settlement was made with the school.

"They were advised that he was HIV-positive and he was fired, despite the fact that he wanted to come back to work," EEOC attorney Jacqueline H. McNair told the Sun. "He was a good teacher and well-liked."

The EEOC says Chesapeake Academy violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, which defines HIV as a disability, therefore making it unlawful to wrongfully terminate someone with the virus.

"From our perspective we did not feel the decision we made had anything to do with the disability," head of school at Chesapeake Academy Jay Scheurle said in a statement. "We intend to defend the claim vigorously."

The private academy, Scheurle says, promotes diversity throughout it's pre-school to fifth grade classrooms.

"They seem very open to ideas. Very progressive. They are not closed-minded," Tracy Eklof, a parent of two academy students, said in The Capital.

Stevenson's lawsuit intends to force the Academy to create a safety net in its policy for other faculty members, ensuring wrongful termination cannot happen again. He also seeks back pay and "front pay with prejudgment interest." (The Advocate)