Board settles claim from veteran assistant principal
The Paterson Board of Education voted on Oct. 19 to approve a $100,000 payment to resolve a lawsuit brought by Petula Harden-Brown, a vice principal at the Joseph A. Taub School, who alleged that she was denied promotion to principal because of her age, race and gender.
Harden-Brown, 56, has worked in the Paterson district for more than two decades. In the complaint, she said she was passed over for a principal position at Alexander Hamilton Academy in 2024. That school was later dismantled earlier this year by district officials.
Dispute over application and hiring timeline
District statements in sworn filings dispute Harden-Brown’s account. Officials said she did not apply for the principal opening during the district’s 10-day posting period and that she expressed interest only after the new principal had already been announced.
"The district stated that Harden-Brown had not applied for the job during the 10-day posting period,"
The board’s decision to resolve the case avoids further litigation and potential trial testimony. The settlement was approved during a board meeting earlier this week.
Background and long service in Paterson schools
According to the lawsuit, Harden-Brown has served as an assistant principal in 10 Paterson schools over the past 22 years. Her complaint also references an earlier episode in 2007, when she says she was denied a principal appointment and was told by an assistant superintendent that the district preferred male principals.
District officials countered that their record shows many women already in school leadership positions. In their filings, they pointed out Paterson had 11 female principals at the time, including nine who were older than 50, arguing that the district did not restrict leadership roles to men.
What the settlement means locally
For Paterson families and district staff, the settlement raises questions about hiring practices, transparency around vacancy postings, and protections against discrimination for long-serving employees. While the payment resolves this specific claim, it does not create a public record of wrongdoing; the terms approved by the board end the litigation without an admission of liability from the district.
- Amount approved: $100,000
- Claimant: Petula Harden-Brown, vice principal, Joseph A. Taub School
- Allegations: Passed over for promotion due to age, race and gender
- Position sought: Principal of Alexander Hamilton Academy (2024 vacancy)
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2007 | Harden-Brown alleges she was denied a principal job and told district preferred male principals |
| 2024 | Harden-Brown sought principal post at Alexander Hamilton Academy; district says she did not apply in posting window |
| Oct. 19, 2026 | Board votes to pay $100,000 to resolve lawsuit |
The case underscores tensions that can arise between administrators and school districts over appointment procedures and equal employment protections. For district leaders, the episode may prompt reviews of how vacancies are publicized and how candidacy is documented to reduce the chance of future disputes.
Community members and advocates for school employees will likely watch whether the district takes additional steps — such as revising posting policies, ensuring wider notice of vacancies, or improving documentation of applicants — to address concerns raised by the litigation.
The board’s settlement brings closure to this particular legal matter, but it leaves unresolved the broader questions about how Paterson selects school leaders and how long-serving staff are supported when seeking promotions.
