A former teacher at St. Thomas Academy, a private Catholic school in Redmond, is suing the school, alleging she reported inappropriate sexual behavior by a kindergartner multiple times and school officials denied the allegations and failed to act.

Brandy Blakeley was a kindergarten teacher with the school during the 2022-23 school year, when the incidents allegedly took place. St. Thomas Academy is a pre-K-8 school in Redmond operated by the Diocese of Baker.

Blakeley is asking for $1.1 million for alleged gender discrimination, wrongful discharge, emotional distress, a hostile work environment and retaliation by the school and Principal Patty Schulte, according to the lawsuit filed in Deschutes County Circuit Court on Monday.

Blakeley says she raised complaints multiple times to school administrators about a student she alleges sexually harassed her, another student and a student teacher.

In September 2022, the student was moved to Blakeley’s class from a first grade classroom. Blakeley alleges the student “rubbed his hands under (Blakeley’s) breasts back and forth” multiple times between September and October 2022. Blakeley reported the behavior to Schulte and the student’s parents. She was told by Schulte that it was normal and “to get used to the assaults,” according to the lawsuit.

Blakeley told Schulte she didn’t feel safe and she didn’t feel other students were safe. Blakeley was informed the student was not returning to school, and later learned the student was returning to the first grade classroom.

After learning from a parent that another child had allegedly been sexually assaulted by the student, Blakeley spoke with administrator Andrea Gibson. Following that meeting, Gibson and Schulte met with Blakeley and said her interpretation wasn’t true and the “other student’s mother did not state what (Blakeley) alleged,” according to the lawsuit.

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Blakeley resigned from St. Thomas Academy. She attempted to speak to the Diocese of Baker, was told she was being heard, but did not have a more detailed discussion with anyone from the diocese. Blakeley then filed a complaint with the Bureau of Labor and Industries.

Neither Schulte nor the diocese’s bishop could be reached for comment Thursday.

Blakeley alleged that the school’s and Schulte’s actions were done deliberately and “with discriminatory intent,” according to the lawsuit. St. Thomas Academy and the principal contributed to an “intimidating, hostile and offensive working environment”.

The lawsuit alleges Blakeley was vulnerable because she expected school officials to report the inappropriate behavior to protect her and the students.

Neither Blakeley nor lawyer David Hannon could be reached for comment Thursday.