A former employee of a major public school district has filed a lawsuit alleging discrimination based on age and disability. On February 19, 2026, Thomas W. Ivey filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Chicago Public Schools and the Board of Education of the City of Chicago.
Thomas W. Ivey, who is representing himself, claims that his termination was unjust and violated federal laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). Ivey, who is 62 years old, worked as a Social and Emotional Learning Specialist for Chicago Public Schools until he was displaced from his position on June 8, 2023, while on medical leave for knee replacement surgeries. Despite receiving positive performance evaluations throughout his tenure, Ivey alleges that he was replaced by younger employees without disabilities. “Defendants denied him reasonable accommodations,” states the complaint, referring to requests for remote work due to his health conditions which include coronary artery disease.
The plaintiff details how he had previously been granted remote work accommodations during the COVID-19 pandemic but was later denied similar requests despite his ongoing health issues. This denial forced him into an unnecessary four-week leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), depleting his job-protected leave before undergoing surgery. When he attempted to return to work in June 2023 after recovering from surgeries, he discovered that his position had been filled without prior notice or opportunity for reassignment.
Ivey accuses Chicago Public Schools of discriminatory practices by hiring significantly younger individuals to fill roles similar to his own after displacing him. The complaint argues that these actions were not only discriminatory but also retaliatory since they followed Ivey’s request for accommodations under ADA provisions. He asserts that these decisions were made with deliberate indifference towards his rights under federal law.
In seeking justice, Ivey asks the court to reinstate him to his former position or an equivalent role within Chicago Public Schools. Additionally, he seeks back pay and lost benefits along with compensatory damages for emotional distress caused by this ordeal. The lawsuit also calls for punitive damages against the defendants for their alleged willful disregard of anti-discrimination laws.
The case is being overseen by Judge Steven C. Seeger with Magistrate Judge Beth W. Jantz assisting in proceedings under Case ID: 1:26-cv-01914.
Source: 126cv01914_Thomas_W_Ivey_v_Chicago_Public_Schools_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf
