A former Palatine High School social studies teacher has filed a lawsuit against a suburban Black Lives Matter activist and school board candidate, claiming his critical Facebook posts led to her firing last summer.
In a lawsuit filed last month by Jeanne Hedgepeth against Tim McGowan in Cook County Circuit Court, Hedgepeth claims McGowan “commenced efforts to try to have Hedgepeth terminated” and defamed her by posting a video online in which he made false statements about her.
McGowan is one of nine candidates who will be facing off in the April 6 election in race for three open seats on the Township High School District 211 school board. According to his campaign website, he’s a small-business owner, father and a 2006 graduate of District 211’s Fremd High School.
Hedgepeth’s legal action, which seeks more than $50,000 in damages, alleges that McGowan made multiple false claims about Hedgepeth in the video, including that “over the years she has encouraged white students at Palatine High School to disrespect Black students,” the lawsuit states.
“At the time McGowan made these false statements, he knew that these statements were false. … The statements were made solely for the purpose of harming Hedgepeth,” according to the lawsuit.
Hedgepeth had held her teaching position since 2000, “with favorable reviews and accolades from her superiors,” according to the complaint.
McGowan, who according to his website is a community organizer and led Palatine’s first protest in support of the Black Lives Matter movement last summer, declined to comment.
But in a Wednesday statement released by his attorney, McGowan said, “The minds of our students should be shown the pathway to defending our constitution, not bringing forth vile statements.”
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McGowan’s attorney, Kristin Tauras, added: “The timing of filing a lawsuit within weeks of an election can be for purposes of creating mistrust, fear and derision of a candidate. … He has been vocal in letting the constituents of the district know that he is willing to listen to all sides of any issue, but will not stand down when it comes to bullying or indoctrination of students.”
McGowan’s campaign website says he’s “witnessed firsthand and participated in the incredible opportunities offered by the district, including vast selections of academic classes and extracurricular activities.”
“However, despite these experiences, he also noticed microaggressions in addition to discrepancies between how he was treated compared to his peers,” the statement said. “Although Tim did not imagine himself as someone who would run for office, hearing how current students’ challenges so closely resemble his own, even 15 years after he graduated, he was left with no choice. Tim is now running … to give voice to underrepresented members of our community and advocate for their needs.”
District 211 officials declined to comment on why Hedgepeth was terminated from her teaching position last July.
But a district spokesman confirmed in an email that the school board approved a resolution at a July meeting “regarding the suspension and dismissal of Ms. Hedgepeth,” and that, “Ms. Hedgepeth has contested the dismissal through an Illinois State Board of Education hearing process.”
Hedgepeth’s lawsuit states: “As a direct and proximate result of McGowan’s false and defamatory statements, Township High School District 211 terminated Hedgepeth and she experienced humiliation and damage to her reputation.”
Hedgepeth’s attorney declined to comment.
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