Colmesneil ISD, district superintendent Sharon Tule and the CISD board of trustees are named as defendants in a lawsuit brought by Krysta Connolly, a former employee of the district.
Connolly, a former paraprofessional at the elementary campus, who began working there in January 2021, until she was terminated last October, is claiming that she was terminated for exercising her protected First Amendment rights in relation to a matter of public concern.
The suit was filed on Jan. 3 in United States District Court, Eastern Division of Texas, Lufkin Division by Connolly’s lawyer, Maureen Farrell, a senior partner with the Farrell Legal Group of Houston. Connolly is asking for $250K+ in damages.
The Tyler County Booster met with Krysta Connolly, and in summary, she explained, “I was fired in October of last year for what the superintendent explained were unethical and illegal reasons, and that my conduct was a misdemeanor. My husband, Roger was a candidate for two at-large positions on the school board in the November election, and I hired another teacher at the school who has a side business making decorative items, homecoming mums, signs, and similar items to paint a banner for Roger’s candidacy.”
Connolly claimed she paid another employee, out-of-pocket to paint a banner for use at a PTO-sponsored Halloween event, unbeknownst to her husband, and that the creation of the banner did not take place during school hours. However, she said, the person she had enlisted to paint the display was observed painting during a conference period, which was reported to CISD administration.
Krysta Connolly’s attorney, Maureen Farrell released the following statement: “Teachers and school staff are Americans. They have free speech right like the rest of us. Krysta was fired for campaigning for her husband’s election to CISD Board of Trustees, outside of school, and is devastated that the superintendent and board let those political issues interfere with the good work Krysta was doing for the kids and families. We tried to settle this dispute without filing a lawsuit, but we believe the Superintendent and Board should be held accountable.”
Eric Lee, who serves as president of the CISD Board of Trustees, on behalf of the board, has released this statement regarding Connolly v. Colmesneil ISD: “Colmesneil ISD firmly rejects the lawsuit filed by former employee, Krysta Connolly, categorically stating that her allegations are not only misleading but also fundamentally false and taken out of context. The district asserts that all actions taken were fully justified and in strict compliance with state law, aimed at addressing clear instances of employee misconduct, including Ms. Connolly’s own actions that were in noncompliance with state law. The district’s litigation counsel is vigorously pursuing a dismissal of all claims by Ms. Connolly due to their lack of legal merit. While the ongoing nature of the litigation restricts the district from disclosing further specifics, it emphasizes its unwavering commitment to prioritize educational excellence and the well-being of students and staff. Colmesneil ISD remains dedicated to fostering a positive and collaborative environment for all the members of the community, undeterred by these baseless allegations.”
Krysta Connolly’s counsel reached out to the district with offers to settle, in correspondence dated Oct. 31, 2024, stating “She (Krysta) wants to avoid litigation, if possible. Any litigation will be time-consuming, expensive and disruptive. It will escalate tensions among elected officials, staff, and the public. It would be a disservice to the children of Colmesneil ISD.”
At that point, her lawyer was asking for a settlement payment of $50,000, among other incidental demands. This correspondence went unanswered by the district’s legal representatives.
“The only reason given for my termination was doing illegal and unethical things by electioneering on the clock,” said Krysta Connolly. “Tule told me that she was terminating me, her hands were tied, she talked to the attorneys, she didn’t have a choice, she had to terminate my employment,” she added.
Following her termination, Krysta Connolly said that her husband suggested that they speak with a lawyer, so that her termination did not further hinder her ability to teach.
“I just wanted my name cleared and wanted my job back. One of the biggest reasons for filing the suit is to clear my name and reputation. I am pursuing my teaching degree; I have wanted to be a teacher my whole life,” she said.
“I love those kids and the people there, the parents, my kids, my co-workers, I loved them, they’re phenomenal. I don’t want one person to ruin what I anticipated being the rest of my work life, I wanted to work at CISD until I could retire.”
