A former educator is seeking legal action after alleging that she was removed from her coaching position and subjected to retaliatory treatment due to her sex, raising concerns about workplace fairness in local public schools. The complaint was filed by Hilary Harrison on April 13, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia against the Montgomery County School Board.
According to court documents, Harrison claims that she experienced discrimination and retaliation while employed as a teacher and girls’ basketball coach at Blacksburg Middle School. The complaint states that Harrison had over fifteen years of teaching experience, including three years within Montgomery County Public Schools, with consistently positive performance evaluations both as a teacher and coach.
The dispute began in December 2024 when Human Resources informed Harrison of an investigation related to a parent complaint about the girls’ basketball team. Before any investigation concluded or allegations were explained to her, Principal Robert R. Johnson, Jr., removed Harrison from her coaching role without providing meaningful notice or an opportunity to respond. On December 13, 2024, she was formally terminated as girls’ basketball coach. During this meeting, Harrison raised concerns about “the lack of support and disparate treatment of female coaches at BMS.” She also submitted written suggestions for improving fairness in coaching practices but was told by Principal Johnson that a letter of reprimand would be placed in her personnel file.
The filing outlines several instances where male coaches allegedly received more favorable treatment under similar or more serious circumstances. For example, it is alleged that male employees who were subjects of complaints or performance issues were not removed from their positions or disciplined as severely as Harrison. Specific cases cited include male coaches accused of inappropriate behavior or poor performance who retained their roles after meetings with administration rather than being dismissed.
Harrison further alleges that gender-based expectations were imposed on female athletes but not on male teams—such as requiring girls’ teams to “dress up” on game days—while no comparable requirements existed for boys’ teams.
After expressing intent to file a grievance challenging her removal and raising concerns about unequal treatment during a January 15, 2025 evaluation meeting with Principal Johnson (where no criticism was made regarding her classroom performance), Harrison alleges she faced immediate retaliation. The next day, she reports being summoned by Johnson under false pretenses to a secluded office where he physically blocked her exit and aggressively questioned her tardiness—a matter never previously raised during her career. This incident followed closely after she announced plans to challenge what she described as discriminatory practices.
Subsequently, after contacting Human Resources on January 23, 2025 regarding these experiences and requesting access to her personnel file, Harrison received a sharply negative written mid-year evaluation ten days after receiving only positive feedback during an earlier in-person review. According to the complaint: “This written evaluation was the first and only negative performance review Plaintiff received in over fifteen years of teaching.”
The lawsuit asserts two main counts: discrimination based on sex under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; and retaliation for engaging in protected activity such as opposing alleged unlawful employment practices or filing grievances about disparate treatment. The complaint alleges that “Defendant’s actions would dissuade a reasonable employee from opposing discrimination” and describes the timing between protected activities (such as reporting concerns) and adverse actions (such as intimidation incidents or negative evaluations) as supporting an inference of causation.
Harrison seeks multiple forms of relief from the court including: a declaration that Defendant violated Title VII; preliminary and permanent injunctions prohibiting further discrimination or retaliation; removal of reprimands or negative evaluations resulting from alleged unlawful conduct; back pay; front pay or equitable monetary relief; compensatory damages for emotional distress; attorney’s fees; litigation costs; interest; and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Attorney Zach Miller represents Hilary Harrison in this case (Case ID: 7:26-CV-00315).
Source: 726cv00315_Harrison_v_Montgomery_County_School_Board_Complaint_Western_District_Virginia.pdf
