(NewsNation) — A former special education teacher is suing her old New York City employer, saying she was violently attacked by one of her students while she was six months pregnant — then fired after being blamed for it.
Lauren Vitale, 31, was a kindergarten teacher at a Staten Island elementary school at the time of the alleged attack in late January. According to her lawsuit filed with the Manhattan Supreme Court, the school failed to notify her of the student’s previous history of violent behavior, and she believes they placed the child in her class as a form of retaliation.
The lawsuit details a myriad of instances where Vitale was discriminated against, forced to work in a hostile environment and retaliated against after asking for help.
Teacher’s complaints span over years
Vitale says the first sign of trouble began during the hiring process in September 2023. In the lawsuit, she says the principal asked her if she planned to get pregnant “anytime soon” before laughing it off…