Discrimination Lawsuit Against Dist. 135, Supt., Moves Forward

ORLAND PARK, IL — A lawsuit between a teacher who alleged she was not promoted because she declined advances by Superintendent DJ Skogsberg and Orland District 135 failed to be settled over the summer and is moving forward in the court system.

Heather Conrad, a Jerling Junior High teacher, filed a lawsuit in 2017 that accuses the district of sex discrimination and retaliation.

The district has denied all of her allegations.

In 2016, shortly after Skogsberg was named superintendent, Conrad said she mentioned to him that she was looking to become a principal in the district. At the time, Conrad had been serving as an assistant principal.

In her suit, Conrad claimed that after that, on several occasions, Skogsberg told her they “need to go out” or “get together,” “I love you” and “I’ll take care of you,” the Daily Southtown reported.

Months later, Skogsberg told her she was being relieved of her position and was given the choice to resign, be fired, or resign and be demoted to a teaching position. She was not given a reason, she said.

The district claims she voluntarily took the teaching positions.

Conrad is seeking damages in her lawsuit.

Read more in the Daily Southtown.