Students walk out in support of teacher in sex discrimination lawsuit
By Hannah Moore
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CLEARWATER, Kansas (KAKE) — High school students in Clearwater participated in a walkout on Monday in support of a lawsuit filed by Clearwater Intermediate-Middle School teacher Deborah Lukert against Unified School District No. 264, Sedgwick County, Kansas, and Superintendent Jason Johnson.
The lawsuit was filed on July 6, 2026, and alleges sex discrimination, denial of equal protection, and retaliation. According to Kansas District Court documents, Lukert has more than 21 years of teaching experience and currently teaches fourth and fifth grade in the district.
“We’re out here protesting Jason Johnson, our superintendent, because Ms. Lukert sued the school district and him for $75,000 on the basis of sex-based discrimination in the workplace,” a student, Lucas Miller, said. “Discrimination has no place in the world. I’m happy to stand out for it, no matter what it takes.”
Students said they believe this is not the first time a teacher has been discriminated against, and called for Johnson to be removed from the district’s Board of Education.
“The court documents include 17 pages worth of bullet points of just separate incidents that have happened,” Miller said. “If you get hired, it should be on your qualifications. Apparently Jason Johnson doesn’t agree and I spoke out to him and said you should be off the school board. That’s how I feel.”
In the spring of 2025, court documents state two new social studies positions became available.
“Ms. Lukert applied and interviewed for both positions,” the plaintiff’s complaint said. “She was highly qualified and held the appropriate credentials for both. Members of the hiring committee told her that her interview was exceptional. Ms. Lukert was not selected for either position. One position was filled without any interview by an internal transfer. The second position was given to a young male coach who did not hold a degree in education and who had repeatedly failed the social studies Praxis licensure examination. Upon information and belief, he had still not passed that examination as of late May 2026, yet he continues to hold the position for the 2026–27 school year.”
Later in the complaint, on Aug. 9, 2025, Lukert alleged that in a training session, Johnson shouted at Lukert and another female employee in front of colleagues. It further adds that other male employees who were participating were not singled out.
“As Ms. Westbury began to answer, Johnson strode across the room, pounded his finger forcibly on the table directly in front of her, and screamed at the two women, “Come on, ladies! She asked you to write. Now pick up your pencil and write! Come on, Let’s Go!” in front of a table of colleagues and the assembled staff,” the plaintiff’s complaint said.
The complaint further alleged the district denied Lukert’s request on Oct. 9, 2025, for professional leave to attend the NCHE national conference in March of 2026. The complaint states Johnson gave inconsistent reasons for the denial.
“On October 15, 2025, Johnson denied the request, stating that the District “doesn’t send people to national conferences during the school year,” and citing the state assessment window and days Ms. Lukert had missed,” the plaintiff’s complaint said. “On October 29, 2025, Ms. Lukert emailed Johnson and the Board of Education requesting reconsideration of the denial. Rather than respond to the reconsideration request or place the matter before the Board, Johnson insisted that Ms. Lukert first meet privately with him—notwithstanding that the conflict was with him. On October 31, 2025, Ms. Lukert submitted a “Request to Add an Agenda Item” form, together with Board Policy GAD (Employee Development Opportunities), which recognizes the Board’s authority to approve professional development. On November 3, 2025, Johnson rejected the agenda request on the asserted ground that it had been submitted to the wrong person, invoked authority to resolve the matter himself, and pre-determined that “the matter will be handled within the parameters of the district office.” On November 17, 2025, Johnson met with Ms. Lukert, her husband Dale Lukert, and Curriculum Director Casey Peine. At that meeting, Johnson announced four reasons for the denial, three of which had not accompanied the original October 15 denial (the statement that the District does not send people to national conferences had been originally stated).”
The four reasons alleged in the court documents include Ms. Lukert and Ms. Westbury engaged in “egregious behavior” at the staff training session in August, the board and Johnson did not want to bring back “left-leaning LGBTQ ideology” from the conference, Lukert was absent nearly 22 days the prior year, and the district does not send staff to national conferences during the school year.
Later in the complaint, it states Lukert used three personal days to attend the NCHE national conference.
The complaint alleged a few male basketball coaches attended a national convention in April of 2025 with district-funded expenses. It also alleged a male teacher attended an out-of-state social studies conference with district support.
Lukert submitted an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) inquiry on Nov. 20, 2025, and later filed a formal EEOC charge in March of 2026.
The complaint alleged Johnson learned of the EEOC charge and cut off Lukert’s communication with him and the Board until the inquiry was complete.
KAKE News did reach out to USD-264 as well as Superintendent Jason Johnson, who said “We cannot comment on any current litigation.”
We also reached out to the principal at Clearwater High School, and he said he could not make any comments on the walkout Monday morning.
Lukert alleges emotional distress, physical symptoms, and lost compensation and benefits. The lawsuit asks for $75,000 in damages and demands a jury trial.
An extension was filed on Sept. 30 to extend the defendants’ time to answer to Oct. 21.
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