Former elementary school principal sues Wayne Co. Board of Education

WAYNE - A former East Lynn Elementary School principal is suing the Wayne County Board of Education after she claims an offer to transfer to another school was wrongfully rescinded.

Gary L. Adkins, the former superintendent of Wayne County Schools, was also named as a defendant in the suit.

Vanessa Ramey was an employee of Wayne County Board of Education as the principal of East Lynn Elementary School and on May 29, 2012, she was told that she would be placed on a plan of improvement by the defendants to be in effect for the 2012-13 school year, according to a complaint filed Nov. 19 in Wayne Circuit Court.

Ramey claims on July 18, 2012, she met with Adkins during a county board-sponsored principals retreat in Charleston to resolve the grievance.

Shortly into the meeting, Adkins asked for Ramey's resignation, which she refused, according to the suit.

Ramey claims after she refused to resign, Adkins offered her a transfer to Buffalo Middle School as a vice principal at the same salary that she was receiving as principal of East Lynn Elementary School and in exchange for the transfer, she agreed to resign as principal of East Lynn and withdraw her grievance.

On July 19, 2012, in reliance on the promises made by Adkins, Ramey tendered her resignation effective on her appointment to Buffalo Middle School as vice principal, according to the suit.

Ramey claims on Aug. 22, 2012, Adkins rescinded the offer to her.

As a result of the defendants' outrageous actions, Ramey suffered mental anguish, public embarrassment and physical injury, according to the suit.

Ramey claims the defendants breached their contract with her and caused her damages.

Ramey is seeking compensatory and punitive damages and back and front pay with pre- and post-judgment interest. She is being represented by Mark W. Carbone of Carbone & Blaydes PLLC.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge James H. Young Jr.

Wayne Circuit Court case number: 13-C-247