A federal appeals court panel has ruled against a St. Paul teacher who quit his job in 2012 amid allegations of racist treatment of students.
Timothy Olmsted was teaching sixth grade at Heights Community School when parents accused him of disparaging their three black children and forcing them to sit in the back of the classroom.
St. Paul Public Schools told his lawyer that they intended to fire him. Olmsted resigned eight days later with the understanding he would go on sick leave until his banked sick time was gone and the district would not file a formal complaint with the Board of Teaching.
But while on sick leave three months later, Olmsted tried to rescind his resignation. When the district refused to take him back, Olmsted sued the district, claiming he’d been pressured to resign when they had no good reason to fire him.
A U.S. District Court judge rejected Olmsted’s claims last year, and an 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel this week affirmed that decision.
“Olmsted had full knowledge of all the facts, advice from an attorney, and ample time for reflection,” the three judges wrote.
In January 2013, the school district entered into a secret settlement agreement with the families that sued over Olmsted’s treatment of their black children.
Olmsted remains licensed to teach elementary school and driver education in Minnesota.
