KQED Investigation Spotlights Whistleblower Lawsuits Against Charter School Over Special Education Failures

A recent KQED investigation has brought attention to two whistleblower retaliation lawsuits filed against Berkley Maynard Academy, a North Oakland charter school operated by Aspire Public Schools. The cases, handled by attorney Elana Jacobs of Winer Burritt Scott & Jacobs LLP, center on allegations that school administrators retaliated against educators who raised concerns about failures to provide legally required support for students with disabilities. The investigation profiles former assistant principal Iris Velasco and former teacher Maryann Doudna, who allege they were punished after speaking up about systemic lapses in special education services, unsafe learning conditions, and noncompliance with state and federal law.

Both educators say they raised concerns to protect students—particularly those with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), English learners, and students from low-income families. According to the lawsuits and reporting, teachers and staff described a campus culture where concerns about students with disabilities were ignored or dismissed, leading to worsening classroom conditions, staff turnover, and students not receiving mandated services. Velasco alleges she was terminated shortly after filing a whistleblower complaint, while Doudna says she felt forced to leave after repeated pleas for help went unanswered.

"Educators are often the first to recognize when schools fail to meet their legal obligations to students," said Jacobs. "When they speak up, they're doing so to protect children's educational rights, not to make trouble." Jacobs emphasized that retaliation against educators has consequences far beyond the workplace. "This isn't just a workplace dispute, it's about kids with disabilities, English learners, and low-income families whose rights are being ignored," she said. "If whistleblowers are silenced, families lose their strongest allies inside the system."

The article also raises broader questions about oversight and accountability in charter schools. "Charter schools are public schools, and they must be held to the same legal standards as any district when it comes to special education compliance and student safety," Jacobs noted. "Aspire markets itself as a champion for equity, but these lawsuits tell a very different story." Jacobs says her clients hope their cases prompt meaningful change. "Our clients came forward not just to seek justice for themselves, but to ensure these practices stop so future students and teachers aren't harmed," she said. "We want to encourage a culture where teachers and administrators can speak up about noncompliance and unsafe learning environments without fear of punishment."

The lawsuits against Aspire Public Schools are ongoing. Aspire has denied the allegations. The KQED investigation provides detailed reporting on these cases at https://www.kqed.org/news/whistleblower-lawsuits-charter-school-special-education. The legal representation for the educators comes from Winer Burritt Scott & Jacobs LLP, whose website at https://www.wbsjlaw.com provides information about their work on employment and whistleblower cases. The cases highlight ongoing concerns about special education compliance in charter schools and the protections available to educators who report violations.