Disabled LI student suing ‘above the law’ teacher over alleged racist remarks

A disabled Long Island high school student is suing the Middle Country Central School District for allegedly doing nothing about a teacher who came under investigation for racist slurs and bullying of the teen.

Isabella Rexach-Moore, 18, who attends Centreiche High School, alleges math teacher Jennifer Brunet targeted her because of her race and the clothes she wore — calling her a “slut” and calling her “black kids.” complained about K’s perpetual absence”.

– Advertisement –

The teen — who received special education accommodations because of anxiety, depression and bipolar issues — alleges Brunet repeatedly bullied her last year, which was detailed in an internal investigation that interviewed several classmates, according to the suit. After the district did

“It made me feel a little off,” Isabella told the Post on Thursday.

advertisement

“I felt like all eyes were on me because it wasn’t happening to anyone else.”

Despite the district’s investigation, Isabella’s lawsuit alleges that officers failed to act on their findings, with Brunet allegedly calling the student behind her back.

– Advertisement –

“I think if you dress like a slut and I call you out for being a slut, that makes me racist,” Brunet told the class, according to the district’s investigation, the complaint states.

The teen’s lawsuit alleges that Brunet began making openly racist remarks last September while taking attendance.

“I can’t deal with these black kids always being absent,” Brunet reportedly said, a troubling allegation corroborated by several students and the district, according to the district’s own investigation, the suit claims.

Isabella said she was shocked by the comment, which she claims was clearly targeting her because she was the only black student absent at the time because of her condition.

Isabella also said she confronted Brunet about the comment, but the teacher reportedly told her “there would be no backlash stemming from his comments.”

The teen also alleges that on October 26, Brunet kicked her out for wearing a shirt with an exposed midriff, allegedly telling her “I was going to wear the same outfit, but I couldn’t because I was against the dress code.” was also violating the

Isabella said other schoolgirls wore a similar shirt, and a school official deemed the teen’s outfit “not inappropriate and did not in fact violate the student dress code,” the suit states.

Brunet reportedly told Isabella afterwards: “I guess I was wrong so you can go on walking around with your midriff.”

The Middle Country Central School District said in a statement that it was aware of the allegations made in the complaint — and stressed that “when these allegations were first brought to the attention of the district [Dignity for All Students Act] The investigation was opened immediately” and “appropriate action was taken based on the results of the district’s investigation.”

Brunet did not respond to The Post’s request for comment.

Isabella’s mother, Kimberly Moore, said she was outraged by Brunet’s “sexual assault” of her daughter, adding that the comments were “unacceptable”.

Moore said, “Her senior year is supposed to be the best year of her life … Instead she’s being victimized by a teacher.”

Isabella said Brunet’s alleged bullying only increased her anxiety – and on October 31, she had to ask another teacher for permission to go outside and call her mother so she could handle herself.

During that incident, students said Brunet allegedly told the class: “She must be famous or something because she can always show up late, call in whenever she wants, and always have a lot going on.” Is.”

Because Brunet is still employed, Isabella’s complaint states that the teacher “falsely believes he is above and beyond the law.”

Isabella’s attorney, Wes Mitev, said he is seeking Brunet’s dismissal and millions in damages.

Mityaev said, “We are going to demand millions of dollars to make sure nobody’s rights are being trampled on, as it was done in this case.”

“There is no place for this kind of despicable racism in the halls of our school.”

Isabella said she wanted accountability for what happened so she could move on and focus on her studies.

She plans to study marine biology at Suffolk County Community College.

“I was shocked and upset” the school didn’t fire the teacher, she said.

“That is not an appropriate response to having a racist teacher.”