Crime & Safety

Lawsuit Filed Against MUSD By School Counselor Alleges Sexual Harassment, Retaliation

A former school counselor at Santa Fe Middle School alleges that she was sexually harassed and retaliated against after ending a sexual relationship with an assistant principal at the school.

A former school counselor at Santa Fe Middle School has sued the Monrovia Unified School District and alleges she was sexually harassed and retaliated against after she ended a sexual relationship with her boss.

Rhonda Luna, a former Santa Fe counselor and accomplished local boxer, filed the lawsuit last July against the district, Santa Fe Assistant Principal Megan Esquer and Principal Ron Letourneau. In the suit, Luna alleges that she was sexually harassed, retaliated against and defamed after she ended a sexual relationship with Esquer.

Luna alleges that she and Esquer became romantically involved during a district sponsored "work related trip" in February 2011. The relationship lasted several months until Luna broke it off in October 2011, the suit asserts.

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After ending the relationship, Luna said Esquer became "hostile" at work. The situation culminated when Luna was placed on administrative leave in March 2012 partly because she ended the affair, she alleges.

"...One of the reasons for her placement on administrative leave was due to defendant Esquer's retaliation for breaking off their sexual relationship," the lawsuit complaint reads.

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Interim Superintendent Deborah Collins said Wednesday that she could not comment on the specifics of the allegations made by Luna.

"At this point, because we are in litigation and it’s a confidential personnel matter, I don’t believe that I’m able to discuss it," she said.

LeTourneau said in a phone message that he and Esquer are also unable to comment because the litigation is pending.

Collins would not comment on why Luna was placed on administrative leave but said that Luna is now working as a counselor at Canyon Oaks High School. Luna was transferred there some time during this school year, she said.

In addition to Luna's accusations of sexual harassment, she also asserts that she was retaliated against after she and two Santa Fe teachers contacted police about inappropriate conduct reported by students about Santa Fe social studies teacher Jay Jessie.

Claims about Jessie's improper conduct with students were investigated by the Monrovia Police Department in November 2011 after Letourneau, Esquer and district administrators failed to punish Jessie, the lawsuit alleges.

"Their decision to go straight to the police was influenced by the fact that...Letourneau; Superintendent Linda Wagner; and Deputy Superintendent Debby Collins were already aware and had not taken any disciplinary action against Mr. Jessie," the complaint reads.

Police did not arrest Jessie because an investigator determined that his conduct was not illegal, according to the complaint. Jessie did not respond to a request for comment on this story sent via email.

After police intervened, Letourneau became upset and threatened to retaliate against the teachers, the complaint states. Luna's working relationsip with her bosses then deteriorated until she was placed on leave in March 2012, according to the lawsuit.

Collins told Luna she was placed on leave "due to a complaint made against [Luna] that stated she was being too verbal about her lack of confidence in the adminstration and that it was disruptive to the SFMS campus," the lawsuit states.

Luna is suing for general damages, loss of earnings, and attorney's fees, in addition to other costs. The school board was scheduled Wednesday to meet in closed session to discuss the lawsuit, according to a board agenda report.


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