47°
The suit against the Middle Country Central School District, filed in Suffolk County Court on Tuesday, Sept. 5, accuses Centereach High School math teacher Jennifer Brunet of multiple “shocking and repugnant acts of misconduct” against senior Isabella Rexach-Moore.
The Suffolk County resident, who is Black, receives special education accommodations and has a documented history of anxiety.
In one “jaw dropping” incident in September 2022, Brunet is alleged to have told her class, “I can’t deal with these Black kids always being absent” while taking attendance.
When Rexach-Moore later approached Brunet to discuss the remark, Brunet reportedly told the girl that she would not face repercussions, the lawsuit said.
Brunet is also accused of “singling out” and “body shaming” the girl by forcing her into a hallway and chastising her over her clothing, claiming it was inappropriate. The school’s assistant principal later informed Brunet that the girl’s outfit was not inappropriate and did not violate the school’s dress code.
“The plaintiff was extremely uncomfortable by having her body ogled, evaluated, and body shamed by defendant Brunet in front of the other students who were in the hallway and witnessed the interaction between the plaintiff and defendant Brunet,” reads the lawsuit.
“This humiliating and sad scene severely triggered the Plaintiff's anxiety to the point where she had asked the second teacher in her class, Mr. Nardi, for permission to step into the hallway, in order to try to alleviate her anxiety and calm down.”
Later in the day, Brunet reportedly further “embarrassed and demeaned” Rexach-Moore by telling her, “I guess I was wrong so you could keep walking around with your midriff out.”
Rexach-Moore was so bothered by the remark that she stayed home the following day, according to the lawsuit. When she returned to the class, she was informed by students that Brunet had told them, “I guess if you dress like a slut and I call you out for being a slut, that makes me a racist.”
In November 2022, Rexach-Moore’s mother filed a Dignity For All Students Act (Dignity Act) Complaint Form against Brunet, prompting an investigation by the school’s principal, Thomas Bell.
The investigation found that the allegations against Brunet were founded, with several students saying they had overheard the offensive remarks.
Despite the findings, Brunet remains employed at the school.
“Brunet continues to have daily interactions with plaintiff, and continues to make inappropriate gestures, facial expressions, and has a general ‘in-your-face’ demeanor against plaintiff, as defendant Brunet falsely believes she is beyond and above the law," the lawsuit said.
The “targeted racism” has reportedly left Rexach-Moore from severe psychological harm and depression, as well as loss of sleep and loss of self-esteem.
The suit also names district superintendent Roberta Gerold and principal Bell.
“The foregoing acts by defendant Brunet were motivated by disinterested malevolence in that they sought to dehumanize Plaintiff, while being allowed free reign to do so by the school district defendants who had turned a blind eye to such willful and wanton acts which they knew or should have known were occurring on district premises,” it continues.
Rexach-Moore is seeking $25 million in punitive damages from the district, plus additional compensatory damages.
Daily Voice reached out to the Middle Country Central School District for comment but did not hear back.
Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Nassau and receive free news updates.
