A former gym teacher in New Jersey has been sued by a former student who claims she was bullied over her Muslim faith and Egyptian heritage. Jana Gadalla, 19, alleges that Kathie DeBonis made a series of offensive comments during the 2022-2023 school year at Bridgewater-Raritan High School.
According to the lawsuit, DeBonis told Gadalla that 'this is America' and that 'by the time you are 16 you will probably be in jail anyway.' DeBonis also allegedly commented on Gadalla's fasting during Ramadan, suggesting she drink alcohol and asking if she thought she was going to hell. On another occasion, she reportedly called Gadalla obese and assigned a three-page paper on obesity before allowing her to use the bathroom.
Gadalla says she reported the incidents to the school principal and a counsellor, after which she was moved out of DeBonis's class. The lawsuit claims that DeBonis then asked, 'Who snitched to the principal?' It also alleges that DeBonis's behaviour was targeted, as she did not make similar comments to lighter-skinned, non-Muslim, non-Egyptian students.
The lawsuit names DeBonis, principal Vincent DelPriore, and the school district as defendants. Gadalla claims she suffered anxiety, sleep disturbance, humiliation, and mental distress as a result. According to reports, DeBonis retired during the 2023-2024 school year and now receives an annual pension of around $70,000.
