A recent KQED investigation has brought attention to two whistleblower retaliation lawsuits involving former educators at Berkley Maynard Academy, a North Oakland charter school operated by Aspire Public Schools. The cases, handled by Elana Jacobs, partner at Winer Burritt Scott & Jacobs LLP, allege that school administrators retaliated against educators who raised concerns about failures to provide legally required support for students with disabilities.
The lawsuits center on allegations from former assistant principal Iris Velasco and former teacher Maryann Doudna, who say they were punished after speaking up about systemic lapses in special education services, unsafe learning conditions, and noncompliance with state and federal law. Both educators reported raising concerns to protect students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), English learners, and students from low-income families. According to the lawsuits and reporting, teachers and staff described a campus culture where concerns about students with disabilities were ignored or dismissed, leading to worsening classroom conditions, staff turnover, and students not receiving mandated services.
Velasco alleges she was terminated shortly after filing a whistleblower complaint, while Doudna says she felt forced to leave after repeated pleas for help went unanswered. "Educators are often the first to recognize when schools fail to meet their legal obligations to students," said Jacobs. "When they speak up, they're doing so to protect children's educational rights, not to make trouble." The investigation raises significant questions about oversight and accountability in charter schools, which Jacobs emphasized must be held to the same legal standards as district schools regarding special education compliance and student safety.
The implications of these cases extend beyond individual workplace disputes to broader educational equity concerns. "This isn't just a workplace dispute, it's about kids with disabilities, English learners, and low-income families whose rights are being ignored," Jacobs explained. "If whistleblowers are silenced, families lose their strongest allies inside the system." The lawsuits highlight the critical role educators play in identifying and reporting systemic failures that might otherwise remain hidden, particularly affecting vulnerable student populations who rely on legally mandated services.
For the education industry, these cases underscore ongoing challenges in special education compliance and whistleblower protection across both traditional public and charter school systems. The allegations against Aspire Public Schools, which markets itself as a champion for equity according to Jacobs, suggest potential gaps between institutional messaging and actual practices. "Whistleblowers like Iris and Maryann came forward because they saw systemic failures harming the students who need the most support," Jacobs said. "Without brave educators willing to raise these concerns, these violations would stay hidden and vulnerable students would continue to suffer."
Jacobs says her clients hope their cases prompt meaningful change in how educational institutions respond to concerns about legal compliance and student safety. "Our clients came forward not just to seek justice for themselves, but to ensure these practices stop so future students and teachers aren't harmed," she noted. "We want to encourage a culture where teachers and administrators can speak up about noncompliance and unsafe learning environments without fear of punishment." The lawsuits against Aspire Public Schools are ongoing, with the organization having denied the allegations. More information about the law firm handling these cases can be found at https://www.wbsjlaw.com.
