Christine Roche Fat Lawsuit: Teacher Sues School District, Claiming Colleague Called Her 'Fat'

Teacher Claims She Was Bullied By Colleague

It seems students aren't the only ones who have to deal with bullying.

Christine Roche, a special education teacher at the Richland School District in Crest Hill, Illinois, has filed a lawsuit against several colleagues and the school district claiming that she was verbally abused in front of students because of her appearance, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Roche's suit follows a complaint filed last year and alleges that fellow teacher Tina Behnke created a hostile work environment and inflicted undue emotional distress when she said in front of students that Roche looked fat and pregnant, later adding "if I looked like s**t, I'd want to know," according to CBS Chicago.

Behnke apologized to Roche and was reassigned to an elementary school, but Roche had to continue working with Behnke's students, according to CBS. Roche believes the school should have done more to keep the sparring teachers at a distance.

Superintendent Michael Early, who is also named in the suit along with special education director Veda Newman, said the school takes harassment claims "very, very seriously," and is investigating, Fox Chicago reports.

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