Former assistant principal files suit against Champaign school district

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — A former assistant principal in Champaign is suing the school district after she said her rights were violated and she was discriminated against.

Rebecca Ramey, former Assistant Principal for Booker T. Washington STEM Academy, filed the lawsuit against the Unit 4 School District on Aug. 13 with the U.S. District Court in Urbana, according to documents obtained by WCIA.

In the documents, Ramey claimed she was discriminated and retaliated against due to her sexual orientation and marital status. Ramey’s wife — Diana Kistler, a teacher at BTW — was among the teachers vocal about the need for safety after two groups of children exchanged gunfire near the school in September 2023. Kistler publicly criticized how district leadership handled the situation.

In March, it was announced that Ramey would be relocated to Kenwood Elementary School. Ramey filed a charge of discrimination with the Illinois Department of Human Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Her lawyer, Ron Langacker, argued there was no valid reason for her transfer, pointing out that Ramey has been a valued part of BTW since 2019.

Ramey also claimed that Unit 4 violated her rights under the First and Fourteenth amendments in the lawsuit filed this week.

The key figures in the lawsuit include the defendants listed as the school district and board, with the following all mentioned by name: Superintendent Sheila Boozer, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Ken Kleber and former Deputy Superintendent Laura Taylor.

Ramey is seeking financial compensation as well as reinstatement to her former position as Assistant Principal at Booker T. Washington Elementary School.

This is a developing story that will continue to be updated.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.