The Board of Education and the city’s Litigation Settlement Committee have both approved a new agreement that would bring to an end a 2022 federal lawsuit by a former Worthington Hooker elementary school teacher.
That teacher, Jessica Light, alleged that the school’s then-principal, Margaret-Mary Gethings, had defamed and retaliated against her after Light publicly raised concerns about the safety of returning to in-person learning during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In August 2024, a federal jury agreed with Light, and awarded the teacher $1.1 million in damages. A New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) spokesperson said at the time that the district “vehemently” disagreed with the ruling, and planned to appeal it.
This new settlement would resolve the federal court case entirely, for an as-yet-undisclosed amount expected to be less than $1.1 million.
The Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the new settlement agreement at its most recent meeting last Tuesday. The city’s Litigation Settlement Committee then voted on Wednesday to approve that same deal.
On Tuesday, city spokesperson Lenny Speiller told the Independent that all parties have agreed on the “major terms” of the settlement. Now, “counsel for both parties are working on finalizing a written agreement. We anticipate the process being finalized by the end of the month, if not sooner.” Speiller described this as “the standard legal and city process for resolving and finalizing settlement agreements.”
Speiller also said that the final dollar amount and other terms of the settlement will not be made publicly available until all parties sign off on the final paperwork.
In a separate comment provided to the Independent last Thursday, Speiller said that “the settlement was reached during a full-day mediation with United States Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson, following a ruling from the trial judge reducing the jury verdict and ordering a new trial on one of the counts. Once final, the settlement will resolve all outstanding claims that Ms. Light has against all defendants and any pending litigation would be dismissed.”
He added that none of the initially awarded $1.1 million has been paid out to Light.
Light, meanwhile, has worked as a teacher in New Haven’s public school district for the past 15 years. Three years ago, she transferred from Worthington Hooker to Ross Woodward to become that school’s discovery lab STEAM teacher.
While no parties are able to disclose the final award amount yet, Light told the Independent that one third of the final settlement payment will be used to pay her lawyer and another third of the total will be taken for taxes. “It was never about the money. It was about being a teacher advocate,” Light said.
At around 7:30 p.m. at last Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting, school board members returned from an executive session during which they had discussed the Light case settlement. Back in public session, the board members voted to approve the settlement.
Light was joined at the meeting by her husband and two children. She hugged her family while wiping away tears after the school board voted to approve the deal.
She left Tuesday’s meeting feeling proud, she said, because “the First Amendment is paramount for safety, so I had to fight to be who I wanted to be for the students and I’m proud of seeing it through.”
She recalled the long and hard process of pursuing this legal case, which often left her feeling drained. She said she refused to walk away from the case because “it meant more than anything. It’s who I am.”
She continued that her obligation is to New Haven’s students and includes speaking up about safety concerns.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, Board of Education President OrLando Yarborough read the following statement about the settlement: “After careful and thoughtful negotiations, Jessica Light and the New Haven Board of Education resolved Ms. Light’s case (Civil Action No. 3:22-cv-425(JBA)). Ms. Light has consistently served as an advocate and educator during her 15 years with the New Haven Public Schools. The board values Ms. Light’s commitment and looks forward to continuing to work together for the shared benefit of the district’s students.”
Light concluded by stating on Tuesday, “I’ll always speak up when there is a moral obligation to do so.”
Light with her two children, celebrating the Board of Ed’s approval of the settlement in her case.