A New Jersey educator was passed over for nearly four dozen promotions because he is white, he claims in an explosive new lawsuit.
Thomas F. Franco alleges the Paterson, NJ school district won’t promote him to an administrative position solely because of his skin color, according to the discrimination lawsuit filed last month.
The 58-year-old Ringwood resident contends he’s applied for “more than 45 positions” since he was hired in 2016, and has only been interviewed once.
“Nearly all administrative level positions within the PPS [Paterson Public Schools], greater than 95%, are held by Black and Hispanic individuals,” according to the suit filed in Passaic Superior Court.
“Many of the people” hired instead of him were “less experienced” and didn’t have his academic credentials, Franco argued in papers.
Franco has the necessary state certificates to fill the principal and vice principal posts he sought, his lawyer told The Post.
And he served as an interim administrator in 2016.
“While I applaud the fact that the district employs many minorities to serve its mostly minority student population, at the same time the district should not prevent highly qualified individuals who may be a non-minority, from being promoted,” said attorney Evan Goldman.
“Mr. Franco’s potential promotion will only serve to enhance all of the students experiences in the district.”
Franco has two master’s degrees from St. Peter’s University and Rutgers University, and a bachelor’s degree in biology and psychology from Rutgers, according to his LinkedIn page.
The district “does not provide the same opportunities for advancement to White applicants as it does to minority candidates,” according to the court papers.
Franco is currently working as a guidance counselor at Paterson’s International High School, according to the school’s website.
His salary is $82,555, according to district payroll records.
“Throughout the course of Mr. Franco’s employment with PPS, he has always received performance evaluations rating him either “highly effective” or “effective,” the suit says.
The suit seeks unspecified damages.
The Paterson school district said it does not comment on pending lawsuits.