Teacher fired from RRPS settles suit

RIO RANCHO — A former Rio Rancho teacher has settled her case alleging that she lost her job at Eagle Ridge Middle School as a result of her union involvement and because she spoke critically of the district at school board meetings.

The suit, filed by Lisa Christopherson, contended that district personnel, as well as the Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education violated her civil rights, as well as the Whistleblower Protection Act. She will receive a $125,000 settlement, her attorney Molly SchmidtNowara said Tuesday.

“The complaint was for various civil rights claims,” Schmidt-Nowara said. “The allegation was that she’d been unlawfully terminated and retaliated against for speaking publicly about matters of public concern in front of the Rio Rancho public school board.”

In its response, the district said that its actions were taken for “legitimate business reasons” and that Christopherson’s union activity was not a “substantial or motivating factor in her discharge.”

Christopherson worked at the school from August 2005 to August 2012. She began attending and speaking at the meetings when she became the school’s union representative in August 2008. She voiced concern over things like class size and a mold problem at Eagle Ridge Middle School, according to her complaint.

Christopherson also contended that she filed a grievance against thenprincipal Sarah Poutsch on behalf of 20 teachers and staff on February 22, 2012, and was placed on administrative leave five days later. She was terminated in August 2012.