Ex-Manhattan school teacher sues Department of Education for a second chance

Monica Johnson taught a fifth-grade class at Manhattan's Public School 123 in 2006. She was fired from that school after being accused of asking her students to comb her hair and rub lotion on her legs.

The ex-Manhattan teacher is now suing the Department of Education in hopes of securing another position that will involve working with children.

Work history and records made public

Johnson's employment history and disciplinary action have been detailed in papers that were made public by the Manhattan Supreme Court on Tuesday. It is Johnson's hope that she will be able given a second chance to work in the Manhattan School district.

Claiming she had to deal with personal issues which led to classroom activities that were anything but normal, Johnson is suing for the right to be cleared of any wrong doings so she can work for a school vendor.

Fired from a job that paid $57,370 a year

Johnson was officially fired from PS 123 -- a job that paid $57,370 a year -- after the Department Of Education had heard too many complaints against her teaching ethics.

Complaints that included calling a student a liar and a thief.

She was also accused of throwing objects across the room. And, received formal warnings in 2004 and 2005 over claims of corporal punishment.

The final blow came in 2008 when Johnson instructed her students to comb her hair, and massage lotion on her feet and legs.

Job offer was rescinded

Offered a job by the social services organization University Settlement as an after-school site manager, the offer to work for a Department of Education vendor was rescinded. Court papers show that the University Settlement discovered Johnson's reason for being let go, and had no choice but to retract their employment offer.

Representing herself

Johnson is representing herself in this case.

The ex-School Teacher claims that at the time she committed such acts that led to her being fired she was not herself. She claims that at the time she was homeless, going through a horrible custody battle, and misdiagnosed with cancer.

Johnson is asking for a second chance and believes she should be given that chance. In a statement, she said she realizes now that "professionalism is non-negotiable" and since coming to that understanding she believes she is entitled to a second chance.

A spokesman for the Education Department said that the completely unacceptable and inappropriate actions of Monica Johnson make her ineligible to work for the Manhattan school district at any time.