Former Teacher in Portland Sues District, Former Superintendent Over His Termination

A former Portland special education teacher has filed a federal lawsuit against the school district and former Superintendent Xavier Botana, saying he was terminated in retaliation for speaking out about classroom staffing shortages.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday by Eric Poulin says Botana and the district violated the First Amendment, the Maine Human Rights Act, the Civil Rights Act and the Maine Whistleblowers Protection Act. The Maine Human Rights Commission reviewed the case and granted Poulin a Right to Sue letter on March 27.

Poulin worked in a Portland K-1 special education classroom at Ocean Avenue Elementary School from November 2020 until Aug. 31, 2022. During his tenure, an employee under his supervision was arrested and charged with sexual exploitation of a minor involving a student in Poulin’s classroom.

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