Cheryl McGee was the executive director of school based mental health for the agency, while Matt Colwell served as the executive director of school success. Both filed lawsuits this week, claiming they were wrongly fired for sharing information from the agency.
Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters’ chief policy advisor, Matt Langston, sent out an email on May 25, threatening employees with termination if they were found to have leaked information to the press.
Langston later posted on Twitter the email had been a ruse — different versions were sent to employees to track who leaked them.
Colwell said he was terminated for sharing information to the Attorney General and a state representative over concerns a new teacher signing bonus program "contravened the requirements of federal and state laws" and risked an $18 million cost to the state.
Mark Hammons, the attorney for McGee and Colwell, argues for two counts against Langston and Walters: that the email had a chilling effect on employees exercising First Amendment rights, and it unlawfully violated the employees' First Amendment rights; and that they were terminated in a manner described as “willful, malicious or, at the least, in reckless disregard of the Plaintiff’s federally protected rights.”
Another employee, Janessa Bointy, served as a school counselor specialist for about two and a half years. The Oklahoman reports Bointy spoke about adolescent mental health during the public comment section...
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