Former Pittsfield Teacher Takes on the Principal & City

When Pittsfield teacher Melissa Fawcett suggested technical staff ask the principal about two missing iPads, it began a series of events that she says cost her a position at Capeless Elementary School and also prevented her from getting a new job elsewhere in the county.

The Berkshire Eagle reports – that was the gist of opening arguments Tuesday in a civil lawsuit filed by Fawcett under the whistleblower statute. Fawcett is suing the city and Principal Candy Jezewski, alleging that she was retaliated against.

When Fawcett was asked by technical staffers about the missing tablets, she said they should ask Jezewski.

Allegedly the principal had left the building and returned with the tablets, which says it is a violation of district policy to remove the equipment from school property.

The suit also said after Jezewski returned to the building with the equipment, and then angrily confronted Fawcett in her classroom in front of her students, accusing her of reporting her for taking the tablets home.