Jenna Russo, a former employee of a California school district, has filed a lawsuit alleging pregnancy discrimination and retaliation in the workplace. The complaint was filed on May 5, 2025, by her attorney Troy C. Skinner at the Superior Court of California in Ventura County against the Oxnard Union High School District. Russo claims that she faced discrimination after informing her employer about her pregnancy and anxiety disorder.
The case outlines a series of events beginning with Russo's employment as a Program Specialist with the Oxnard Union High School District starting August 10, 2022. She later transitioned to a teaching position in August 2023. According to the complaint, Russo disclosed her anxiety disorder to the district in October 2022 but did not receive any accommodations or engagement in an interactive process from her employer. The situation escalated when she became pregnant in September 2023 and informed her supervisor and the Human Resources department in November 2023.
Russo alleges that Dr. Shannon Scott, her principal, made discriminatory remarks regarding her pregnancy during a meeting on December 11, 2023. Dr. Scott reportedly referred to Russo’s pregnancy as a "condition" and expressed concerns about future absences due to maternity leave. Furthermore, Dr. Scott allegedly suggested that Russo's performance would decline once her child was born and questioned whether Russo's husband could take care of their son instead.
The complaint states that after returning from medical leave related to pregnancy complications in February 2024, Russo was informed that her contract would not be renewed—just four days after resuming work. This non-renewal came despite satisfactory evaluations throughout her tenure with the district.
Russo accuses the Oxnard Union High School District of violating several provisions under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), including pregnancy discrimination (Gov. Code §12940(a)), retaliation (Gov. Code §§12940(h), 12945.2), failure to accommodate (Gov. Code §12940(m)), failure to engage in an interactive process (Gov. Code §12940(n)), and creating a hostile work environment (Gov. Code §12940(j)).
In addition to seeking general and special damages for economic losses such as loss of income and benefits, Russo is pursuing compensatory damages for emotional distress caused by the alleged hostile work environment fostered by Dr. Scott's conduct towards employees taking leave related to illness or pregnancy.
Represented by Troy C. Skinner from Skinner Law Corp., Jenna Russo is demanding a jury trial for this case identified as Case No.: 2025 CLUOE04 36145 before Judge K Biaker at Ventura Superior Court.