Brett Bigham
Brett Bigham, Oregon's 2014 Teacher of the Year, was fired from his job at the Multnomah Education Service District April 3. Bigham has filed multiple complaints against the district in recent months. (Laura Frazier/The Oregonian)
The Multomah Education Service District has reinstated Brett Bigham, Oregon's 2014 Teacher of the Year, to ensure compliance with fair dismissal laws.
Bigham, a special education teacher with the district, was fired April 3. The district cited concerns with Bigham's absences from the classroom.
The district announced Wednesday that it had reinstated Bigham and placed him on administrative leave. Interim Superintendent Jim Rose has provided his recommendation to terminate Bigham, which the board will later review.
Here is the full press release:
MESD today confirmed that it had reinstated Brett Bigham as an employee, placed him on administrative leave, and provided him with notice of the interim Superintendent's recommendation to terminate his contract to the MESD Board of Directors, in accordance with fair dismissal laws. The Board will review the interim Superintendent's recommendation at a date no sooner than May 13, 2015.
MESD spokeswoman Laura Conroy commented that "MESD strives to ensure that all employees are treated with respect and receive fair and legal process in employment matters. The actions taken by the MESD to reinstate Mr. Bigham, provide him with notice of the interim Superintendent's recommendation of termination and an opportunity for a hearing on the recommendation with the MESD Board at a date no sooner than May 13, is consistent with our commitment to providing respect and fair and legal process to employees."
Bigham has
against the district alleging sexual oreintation and discrimination. Bigham was the first openly gay educator to be named Oregon Teacher of the Year, and has used the platform to discuss gay rights, bullying and suicide prevention.
Bigham said he received notice of his reinstatement Tuesday from the district's human resources department. He said he believed the district did not follow fair dismissal rules when he was initially fired, and that the back and forth is further retaliation for filing complaints. He disputes the district's evaluation of his time away from the classroom.
"I'm floored again," he said. "This is all still retaliation against me."
--Laura Frazier
lfrazier@oregonian.com
503-294-4035
@frazier_laura