A longtime New Jersey Highland School District employee has filed an age discrimination lawsuit against the district, saying she was passed over for a job promotion at least twice because of her age. Instead, she says younger candidates were hired for the role, as reported by news outlet My Central Jersey.
The now 58-year-old employee, Carla Draper, says she began working with the school district in 2003 where she worked as an Aftercare Assistant at Irving Primary School. Draper was promoted the following year to the role of Aftercare Site Manager.
In 2009, Draper was hired by the school district to work as a paraprofessional in the Irving Primary School. At the time, she was 37 years old.
In the summer of 2023, the school board created a new position, titling it Director of Aftercare. Draper argues in her lawsuit that she had an extensive work history with the school district and performed her duties as expected by her employer. She interviewed for the position of Director of Aftercare but was not hired despite her experience.
Instead, the school district hired 29-year-old Colin Mackintosh to fill the role. In this new role, Mackintosh would serve as Draper's direct supervisor.
Later that year in November 2023, the school district created a new position of Supervisor of Aftercare. Draper again interviewed for this new position but was not hired. Instead, a 20-year-old woman was hired for the position.
In February 2024, Draper filed a complaint with the school district about her direct supervisor, Mackintosh. According to her lawsuit, Draper told the school that at times during staff meetings, Mackintosh spoke disparagingly about other, older staff members.
After Draper made her complaints to the school district, she was terminated from her position in May. The district cited alleged poor performance as the reason behind her termination. However, Draper maintains in her lawsuit that she followed the school district protocols.
After she was terminated, the school district hired a much younger employee to take her place.
The federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act protects employees and job applicants over 40 years old from age-based discrimination, including termination or retaliation for complaining about supposed discrimination. Meanwhile, New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination prohibits employment discrimination based on age for anyone between the ages of 18 and 70.
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