A former high school volleyball and soccer coach has sued the Manor Independent School District near Austin, Texas, claiming she was wrongly relieved of her coaching duties last April.
Plaintiff Deydra Steans says she was fired from Manor High School after taking her complaints about what she thought was unequal treatment of the girl’s athletic teams to school officials.
In her compliant, Steans claims the Manor High boy’s athletic teams received new uniforms, unlike the girl’s teams, and that school coaches were provided with funds to run summer conditioning programs for male athletes and not female athletes.
She also claims the girl’s teams did not receive meal arrangements comparable to that which was provided to the boy’s teams.
Another reason Steans believes she was terminated was for making allegations of sexual harassment against Manor High football coach and athletic director Sadd Jackson.
According to the suit, Steans says Jackson “touched (her) breasts inappropriately” at a ceremony recognizing student-athletes who had received college scholarships and also that he sent her “inappropriate” text messages.
It was last spring when Steans learned Manor school district decided to not renew her contract as head varsity volleyball coach and assistant varsity girl’s soccer coach. She had worked at the school for three years, after which she was assigned as a special-education teacher at Decker Middle school.
Manor School District attorney Scott McDonald says Steans’ removal was not due to her complaints or allegations, but to her “unsatisfactory” performance as a coach.
McDonald said the school saw “little noticeable or discernible improvement over the years she coached the team.” Under her guidance from 2009-11, the volleyball team won just 11 games.
Under new coach Russell Larson, the team went 16-26 this past season.
In her suit, Steans is seeking more than $50,000 in damages. Jackson, Steans and her attorney Gary Bledsoe have declined to comment.
