Terry v. Gary Community School Corp.

Magistrate Judge did not err in granting defendant-school district’s motion for summary judgment in plaintiff-principal’s Title VII action alleging that defendant reassigned plaintiff to assistant principal position at different school and subsequently failed to promote her to principal position at different school on account of her gender. Plaintiff failed to present evidence to dispute defendant’s claim that plaintiff was reassigned because her school was closed due to declining enrollment. Also, plaintiff failed to present evidence to show that defendant’s explanation that male co-worker was promoted to principal position because he had more relevant principal experience at said school was unworthy of belief. Fact that plaintiff had highest score given by interview committee for said promotion did not require different result, where successful candidate did not interview with committee, and where plaintiff failed to present evidence to show how defendant typically filled vacant principal positions. Also, record supported defendant’s explanation that plaintiff was terminated because it was undergoing financial crisis and had need to reduce administrative staff so as to preclude plaintiff's retaliation claim. Moreover, historical difference in pay between plaintiff’s and male co-worker’s principal positions, as well as defendant’s salary freeze precluded plaintiff from establishing any Equal Pay Act action based upon male co-worker’s higher salary.