How A Pro Se Won Justice

How a Pro Se Won Justice is the remarkable true story of one woman’s disturbing but valiant eight-year legal fight against a clout-heavy school district, her principal, assistant principal and a district administrator. It contains the names of all key players, a link to the parties' oral argument, and includes excerpts from court hearings, deposition transcripts, district and appellate court briefs, letters, memos, emails and the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit's entire opinion, which was written by esteemed Judge Richard Posner. The case has garnered the attention of legal scholars, practitioners, and school boards nationwide. This legal case study and memoir (the only such study written solely by a public school teacher with no legal training) is particularly instructive for those enrolled in educational leadership programs; building leaders; school boards; superintendents; law students; law professors; legal professionals; and pro se litigants. Indeed, it is a must-read for every American citizen, as it addresses significant issues related to race and employment discrimination, civil rights, and the highly immoral and unethical conduct and behavior of legal professionals and school district public servants whose salaries are paid by taxpayers. What occurs during the entire eight-year period shocks the conscience. Joyce Hutchens, a veteran and highly accomplished English, journalism, and business teacher at one of Chicago’s leading public high schools, leaves the classroom to become president of a training and consulting firm before returning to education three years later—this time at Consuella B. York Alternative High School, located in the Cook County Jail. After the principal retires and is replaced by the assistant principal, Hutchens, a National…