According to her lawsuit, Jones graduated from Thayer in 2004 and later received a bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College. She began working at Thayer in various capacities in 2008, most recently working full-time as a health and wellness teacher and substitute instructor until her termination in 2023, the lawsuit states.

In September 2022, Jones told Head of School Chris M. Fortunato and other administrators that she was pregnant and planned to take parental leave when her child was born, the lawsuit states. Jones indicated that she was “hoping that this time, her parental leave will go better than her last parental leave in 2021,” the lawsuit says.

During that leave, Thayer was “uncooperative, unhelpful, and at times hostile to Ms. Jones’s requests for leave, accommodations, and even information, and often provided her with incorrect information in response to her questions,” the lawsuit stated.

As a result, Jones “had no choice” but to take a one-year unpaid leave of absence during the 2021-2022 school year, the lawsuit states.

After notifying school officials of her intention to take parental leave again, she sent a follow-up email in February 2023 to Fortunato and other school officials outlining her thoughts and wishes” for her vacation.

Fortunato and an assistant head of school met with Jones on March 3, 2023 and told her her contract would not be renewed.

“Mr. Fortunato explained that in regards to the health and wellness part of Ms. Jones’ job, “frankly, kids don’t have time in their day to play silly games,” the complaint said, adding that Jones, “somewhat confused of these” statements, explained that he did not play “silly games” with his students.”

She asked Fortunato if he knew one of the subjects he taught was nutrition, and he said he didn’t know that, according to the lawsuit. He also said he did not know how many health and wellness sections she taught, the lawsuit claimed.

Fortunato did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

During a subsequent meeting, Jones asked him if he could work as a full-time substitute teacher in an effort to save his job. But he told her he didn’t have the money for such a position, although a man was later offered a full-time substitute role at the middle school, according to the civil complaint.

During a subsequent meeting with Tally Lauter, the school’s human resources professional, Jones expressed her dismay at being terminated, the complaint said.

“Mr Lauter told Ms Jones she was not ‘special’ just because she was pregnant and he asked her how long she thought she would be able to take leave, an odd question given that parental leave plans of Ms. Jones were in accordance with Thayer policy and Massachusetts law and allegedly had nothing to do with her termination,” the complaint states.

Lauter did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“As a result of plaintiff’s gender and pregnancy, Thayer unlawfully discriminated against her after she notified him of her pregnancy and requested pregnancy-related accommodations, including parental leave, among other things, depriving her of compensation, terminating her relationship of work and unsuccessful. to consider her for comparable positions,” the complaint said.

Jones’ lawsuit seeks damages for lost wages and benefits, among other forms of relief. Thayer had not responded to a court filing Thursday afternoon,

This breaking news story will be updated when more information is released.

Travis Andersen can be reached at [email protected].