Former Springs school official sues district, saying she was fired after refusing to classify 2 immigrant students as disabled
Springs public schools in East Hampton in 2024. Credit: Randee Daddona
A former Springs Union Free School District staffer alleges in a lawsuit she was fired following her refusal to improperly classify two immigrant students as disabled.
The suit brought by Lauren Seaton, who was hired as the district's director of pupil services in 2023, also claims her dismissal followed her pushing back against plans to hire an uncertified student teacher for a classroom with special education students.
Seaton also oversaw student support services, including special education and Individualized Education Programs for students with a disability, as well as placement decisions and other duties. She claims the district retaliated against her and ultimately fired her in January 2025 after challenging officials on issues that would have potentially violated federal and state laws in summer and fall of 2024.
“She's alleging that she was wrongfully terminated after refusing to participate in actions or condone actions she believed were unethical, unlawful and harmful to students," said her Melville-based lawyer Alexander Gilbert.
In October 2024, two teachers asked Seaton to label two immigrant students as disabled but evaluations showed the students had language acquisition issues that are not considered disabilities, according to the lawsuit filed in Suffolk County Supreme Court.
One teacher complained to Nancy Carney, the district’s superintendent, according to the lawsuit.
When Seaton told Carney that the pair did not meet the criteria for classification as having a disability requiring special education services, Carney said they needed to reduce the size of their general education classrooms, according to the complaint. The students were both recent immigrants who did not speak English, Seaton told Newsday.
According to the lawsuit, “inappropriate special education intervention can impede a student’s language development." Misclassifying a student as disabled potentially violates federal and state laws, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act Of 1974, according the lawsuit. Seaton recommended adding integrated co-teaching classrooms, which include special education students, or another general education classroom.
"Students are being pulled into special education programs they don't need, while the support they actually require, targeted language instruction, goes undelivered," Seaton said in an interview.
Carney said in an email the district does not comment on pending litigation. The district, in a motion seeking to dismiss the case, argued Seaton’s claims “reflect routine professional disagreements." The motion also states, “Plaintiff does not allege any unlawful conduct actually occurred, that any student was denied legally mandated services, nor that any action by the District created a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety."
Seaton also raised other concerns, including that the district would violate laws by hiring a student teacher who lacked proper certifications to teach in a newly opened second grade "consultant-teacher" model classroom, which includes special education support within a general education classroom. Her complaints were ignored, the lawsuit said.
She also declined to “forge documents" that would make it seem that a special education teacher enrolled in the Stony Brook University School Educational Leadership Program had completed necessary coursework to begin an internship in the district when she had not, according to the lawsuit.
In November 2024, Seaton was reassigned to home duty before being officially terminated in January. Prior to that, she had not received any warnings or any disciplinary actions.
“The case is really about protecting children, upholding the law, and ensuring that public servants aren't published for raising legitimate concerns on behalf of students," Gilbert said.
Seaton is seeking $8 million in compensatory damages and $8 million in punitive damages, along with other relief.
Lorena Mongelli has been reporting for Newsday since 2021. Prior to that, she covered breaking news at the New York Post.
