A special education teacher in New York City was allegedly kicked in the stomach by a student while six months pregnant and later fired after school officials blamed her for the outburst, according to a lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court.
Lauren Vitale, 31, claims in the suit that the student, who had a documented history of violence, was placed in her kindergarten class at Staten Island's PS 84 without prior notification of the child's past behavior. The lawsuit alleges this was part of a pattern of targeting Vitale.
According to the court documents, the student spat in Vitale's face and then kicked her in the abdomen. Vitale reported experiencing bleeding, decreased fetal movement, and high blood pressure following the assault, requiring a visit to a labor-and-delivery unit.
Instead of receiving support, Vitale alleges that the school's principal immediately blamed her for the student's actions. The suit states that Vitale was eventually fired after protesting the principal's response. "I was in fear that I was going to lose my baby," Vitale told The Post. "They said that I could have avoided the kick to my stomach. I’m not Keanu Reeves — I can’t dodge a bullet."
Vitale, who gave birth to a daughter two months ago, asserts that the incident was the culmination of years of alleged discrimination, a hostile work environment, and retaliation from education officials. She was hired as a special education teacher at PS 84 in 2023.
The lawsuit claims that Vitale's difficulties began during her hiring process in 2023, when the principal allegedly asked if she planned on becoming pregnant soon and laughed. Vitale stated she felt uncomfortable but needed the job.
Further alleged targeting occurred in early 2024 after Vitale filed a union complaint regarding the placement of another student with a history of aggression in her classroom. The suit states this student had previously bitten her and struck her with a curtain rod. In response to this complaint, the principal allegedly summoned Vitale to his office, labeled her a "whistleblower," and warned that she had "opened Pandora's box."
When Vitale privately shared news of her pregnancy with a guidance counselor and union representative in September 2024, her suit alleges the information was immediately leaked to the principal. Minutes later, she claims the principal confronted her in her classroom and badgered her into confirming the pregnancy, after which she was placed on a punitive Teacher Improvement Plan.
"Once I was pregnant, I was scrutinized more, [the principal] would come and observe more, and I just felt there was a change," Vitale stated.
Following the January student assault, Vitale reported that when she returned to work a few days later, the principal "flipped the script." She alleges he criticized her injury report, falsely accused her of corporal punishment, docked her pay, and denied her work injury claim.
Vitale was allegedly fired in April, a week after filing a grievance with her union and shortly before she would have become eligible for tenure. She is now unemployed and seeking to regain her position. "I want to work with children, I want to be a teacher. I just want to be back where I belong," she said. "I’m heartbroken by everything that’s happened."
City education officials declined to comment on the lawsuit when contacted by The Post.