Former Enloe Teacher Sues Wake School Board

Raleigh, N.C. — A former Enloe High School teacher at the center of a controversy over an anti-Muslim speaker filed a lawsuit against the Wake County school board Friday, his spokesperson said.

In February, Robert Escamilla was suspended with pay after he invited Kamil Solomon, head of Kamil International Ministries, to his class. Solomon handed out pamphlets entitled, "Why Women Should Not Marry Muslims."

The school board said Escamilla knew Solomon's guest-speaking engagement would denigrate Islam and was not acceptable. Escamilla was later reassigned to Mary E. Phillips High School, an alternative school.

On Oct. 17, school board members released part of Escamilla's personnel record, because members said they felt they needed to protect their integrity. The records both praised and criticized his teaching ability.

Escamilla, who taught at Enloe for 18 years, also fought to get a 12-page reprimand removed from his employment file, but the school board denied the request.

In his lawsuit, Escamilla claims the school board violated his constitutional rights when they disciplined him, and he wants his transfer to the alternative school rescinded.