The New Jersey school administrator claims he has been overlooked for a promotion 45 TIMES because he is white
New Jersey school administrator, 58, claims he was overlooked 45 TIMES for a promotion because he’s white — as he sues school district with 95% black and Hispanic administrative staff
- Thomas F. Franco, 58, says New Jersey’s Paterson school district has consistently denied him administrative positions based solely on his skin color
- He has filed a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination, claiming he was passed over for nearly 45 promotions because he is white
- Franco claims that ‘most of the people’ who ended up getting the roles were ‘less experienced’ than him and didn’t have his academic qualifications
A New Jersey school administrator has claimed he was passed 45 times for a promotion because he is white.
Thomas F. Franco, 58, filed a lawsuit against the Paterson school district alleging racial discrimination.
The lawsuit, filed last month, alleges that he was denied administrative positions simply because of his skin color.
Franco, who currently works as a guidance counselor at Paterson’s International High School on a salary of $82,500, was hired in 2016.
He notes that he has applied for more than 45 positions within Paterson Public Schools, but has only been interviewed once.
Thomas F. Franco, 58, alleges that the New Jersey Paterson school district has consistently denied him administrative positions based solely on his skin color
According to the lawsuit filed in the Passaic Superior Court, “Almost all administrative-level functions within the prosecution [Paterson Public Schools]more than 95%, is owned by black and Hispanic individuals.’
Furthermore, Franco says that ‘most of the people’ who ended up getting the roles were ‘less experienced’ than him and did not have his academic qualifications.
“While I applaud the fact that the district employs many minorities to serve the predominantly minority student population, at the same time, the district should not prevent highly qualified individuals who may be non-minority from being promoted,” said Franco’s attorney Evan Goldman . to the New York Post.
‘Mr. Franco’s potential promotion will only serve to improve all student experiences in the district.”
Goldman also stated how he believes Franco’s promotion would improve the educational experience of all students in the district.
Franco currently works as a guidance counselor at Paterson’s International High School, pictured, with a salary of $82,500. He was hired in 2016, but has applied for 45 jobs in that time
from Franco LinkedIn The page states that he has two master’s degrees from St. Peter’s University and Rutgers University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in biology and psychology, also from Rutgers.
Franco looks back and future wages he would have received had he been hired for an administrative position
The lawsuit alleges that the district has consistently prioritized advancement opportunities for minority applicants over white applicants.
‘Franco has a wealth of experience in administrative roles before joining the Public Prosecution Service. He is certified as a principal, supervisor, principal and school administrator,” the lawsuit notes.
“During the employment of Mr. Franco at PPS has always received performance reviews that rated him as “highly effective” or “effective,” the indictment said.