NEW YORK, NY – [April 2, 2025] – Rhonda Young, a long-serving paraprofessional in the New York City public school system, has filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York alleging race and gender discrimination, retaliation and failure to accommodate under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The complaint centers on Young’s treatment at P.S. 284K in Brooklyn.
Young is represented by attorney Marjorie Mesidor of Mesidor PLLC, a civil rights firm nationally recognized for its work on behalf of employees experiencing workplace injustice.
According to the complaint, Young – an experienced and dedicated Black woman educator – faced escalating hostility after reporting harassment and inappropriate treatment by school staff. Despite decades of service, she was abruptly reassigned, denied accommodation for documented medical needs, and subjected to a retaliatory investigation designed to push her out of her role.
“This case highlights the dangers of unchecked retaliation and the systemic barriers faced by Black women in educational institutions,” said attorney Marjorie Mesidor. “Rhonda Young’s experience is not isolated – it reflects the ways institutions too often silence those who speak up.”
The complaint alleges that Principal Kelli Joseph at P.S. 284K created a hostile and discriminatory environment and failed to take action after Young reported her concerns. Instead, Young was removed from her assigned role, ignored in attempts to resolve the conflict and later falsely accused of abandoning her post while out on approved leave.
The lawsuit cites violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the New York State and City Human Rights Laws. Ms. Young is seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages, and injunctive relief to prevent future retaliation.