Portland Public Schools has reached a settlement in a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by a middle school teacher, Susan Anglada Bartley, who claimed she endured years of harassment from male students and faced retaliation when she sought changes to the school environment.
Anglada Bartley, who taught language arts at Kellogg Middle School, alleged that male students subjected her to inappropriate behavior, including an incident where a group of seventh graders recorded her buttocks with a cellphone while making sexual comments.
She claimed that this was not an isolated incident and that many female and LGBTQ+ students at Kellogg experienced similar harassment. Anglada Bartley emphasized the importance of teaching boundaries and appropriate behavior to boys, stating, “Children need to be taught boundaries.”
The settlement, amounting to $301,000, was reached just before a trial that was set to begin in Multnomah County Circuit Court. She had originally filed a lawsuit for $550,000.
Under the terms of the settlement, Anglada Bartley will resign from her teaching position, having taken medical leave since October 2024 due to what she described as a district-led attack against her.
District officials did not comment on the case, but court documents indicate that the settlement does not reflect an admission of fault by the district.
The district’s attorneys contended that the incidents described were “isolated and sporadic” and did not meet the criteria for a hostile work environment claim. They further asserted that appropriate measures were taken to address inappropriate behavior from students.
However, the details of the harassment Anglada Bartley reported from fall 2021 to fall 2024 paint a troubling picture of the school’s climate. For instance, she recounted an instance in 2021 where an eighth-grade boy responded to her inappropriately during class and resisted having his cellphone confiscated by hiding it in his pants.
In another alarming episode, a group of boys encircled her outside the school and yelled inappropriate remarks while recording her.
Documentation from the school principal also indicated that incidences of sexual comments and gestures were commonplace, with some students making lewd noises while she taught.
Frustrations among the student body escalated in 2022, resulting in a walkout by female students protesting pervasive sexual harassment. Posters around Kellogg Middle School highlighted their grievances, stating, “Girls in our school are being sexualized and harassed by boys. Teachers and other staff aren’t doing enough about it!”
Initially, Anglada Bartley believed that school administrators, including former principal Richard Smith, would take her concerns seriously. However, she later felt that the administration was reluctant to address the root causes of the harassment.
In response to the recording incident, the principal assured Aubrey that actions would be taken, including reviewing surveillance footage.
Yet, the students involved received minimal consequences—a one-day suspension—while Anglada Bartley claimed that no real efforts were made to educate them on their behavior.
As a result, she observed an increase in harassment incidents directed at not only herself but also her female students, indicating that the lack of consequences emboldened further inappropriate behavior.
During this time, reports surfaced from other teachers about students being subjected to harassment, further corroborating Anglada Bartley’s claims. One teacher reported being slapped by a male student, and several girls disclosed their frustrations regarding their experiences of harassment.
Despite Anglada Bartley’s calls for assemblies focused on teaching students about boundaries and respect, her requests went unheeded, highlighting a systemic problem in the school’s administration regarding handling harassment.
Instead of addressing the issues, the district initiated an investigation into Anglada Bartley for encouraging her students to voice their opinions on the harassment in class. This led to ongoing scrutiny of her actions and ultimately retaliatory measures against her.
Elizabeth Inayoshi, Anglada Bartley’s attorney, expressed confidence that the settlement underscored the strength of her client’s case, emphasizing that the administration dismissed complaints as “boys will be boys,” refusing to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation.
Anglada Bartley had a long tenure in education, teaching at several schools prior to her position at Kellogg, but she now plans to leave the profession altogether.
Having exposed a significant issue regarding the culture of sexual harassment in the school, Anglada Bartley hopes for greater awareness and change in addressing such behaviors in schools, noting that a concerted effort to educate kids is essential for a safer environment.
The case reflects a broader trend in schools nationwide, where student movements have arisen in response to issues of sexual harassment and comment incidents, signaling a demand for more comprehensive policies and practices to ensure a safe learning environment for all students.
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