Three white Department of Education executives, Lois Herrera, Jaye Murray, and Laura Feijoo, who were demoted under ex-Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza and replaced by less-qualified people of color, have reached a settlement with the city for a total of $2.1 million. This settlement comes after a judge ruled that the executives offered evidence of race-based discrimination under Carranza’s leadership, leading to a June trial. Their lawyer, Davida Perry, sees this case as a landmark affirmation that discrimination in educational institutions should not be tolerated, regardless of the race of those impacted.
The lawsuit, filed five years ago, alleged that Carranza targeted “toxic whiteness” within the city Department of Education. Herrera, who held a Harvard master’s degree and served as the CEO of the Office of Safety and Youth Development, was demoted and replaced by a less-qualified Black man, Mark Rampersant. Murray, executive director of the Office of Counseling Support Programs, also faced a series of demotions under Carranza. Feijoo, the Senior Supervising Superintendent overseeing 46 superintendents, was replaced by Cheryl Watson-Harris, who at the time lacked the required NY licensing. The three women felt justified and vindicated by the resolution of this legal battle.
The replacements for the three women were allegedly selected through informal processes, with candidates being chosen after a “tap on the shoulder” rather than positions being advertised and other candidates being interviewed. An internal DOE email suggested that former mayor Bill de Blasio, who appointed Carranza as chancellor in 2018, was focused on diversity in hiring practices. Both de Blasio and Carranza, in sworn depositions, stated that they aimed to hire the most qualified candidates who also represented the diversity of New York City. Carranza resigned from his position as Chancellor in February 2021, and de Blasio ended his term as mayor on December 31, 2021.
While the city admitted no wrongdoing in the settlement, they stated that they are fully committed to fair and inclusive employment practices. The spokesman for the Law Department mentioned that they believed the claims lacked merit but settled the case in the best interest of all parties involved. After facing discrimination and demotions, Herrera, Murray, and Feijoo hope that the attention brought to the DOE’s policies through this legal battle will help other institutions understand the importance of treating individuals with dignity and fairness. The $2.1 million settlement reflects the impact of their experiences under Carranza’s leadership and the importance of addressing discrimination in educational institutions.
