Former Administrator With Troy 30-C Suing District For Racial Discrimination Following Offensive Team Building Game

The current School Administrator in Aurora is suing his former employer. Rheon Gibson was the Director of Student and Family Services for Troy 30-C and has filed a racial discrimination lawsuit in federal court against the Plainfield-based school district.

Gibson says he was given a choice to resign or be fired after complaining about an administrator’s game called Snoop on a Stoop doll game.

Administrators and teachers took photos with the doll, which resembles rapper Snoop Dogg. The doll had fake money and what appears to joints and other drug paraphernalia attached.

Gibson claims he was forced out after complaining about an exercise he viewed as perpetuating racial stereotypes.

Gibson is the only black administrator at the school. Gibson’s federal lawsuit outlined. “He was forced by Defendant to pose with the picture as part of Defendant’s team building. Gibson says the Snoop on a Stoop game and doll was racist and offensive.

The district has yet to respond to WJOL but sent a statement to ABC-7 News, saying in part, “The School District categorically denies Mr. Gibson’s allegations.”

The statement went on to say the doll was “removed from the School District’s property and discipline was imposed. This incident, however, had nothing to do with Mr. Gibson’s performance evaluation rating or non-renewal. The Board of Education remains committed to providing an educational environment and workplace free of racism, discrimination, or harassment in any form.”

Troy Community Consolidated School District 30-C is located in Will County. The district was founded in 1949 and includes portions of Joliet, Shorewood, Channahon, Crest Hill, and unincorporated Troy Township.

Tory 30-C statement:

• The Board of Education of Troy Community Consolidated School District 30-C is aware of former administrator Rheon Gibson’s recently filed lawsuit against it. The School District categorically denies Mr. Gibson’s allegations, specifically the claim that his one-year employment agreement was not renewed at the conclusion of the 2022-2023 school year for reasons unrelated to his performance. In fact, Mr. Gibson voluntarily resigned his employment with the School District in March 2023. 
• In his lawsuit, Mr. Gibson references a colleague having inappropriately displayed a “Snoop on the Stoop” Christmas doll at work without the Board of Education’s or its Superintendent’s knowledge or approval. Immediately upon learning of the employee’s unauthorized actions, the School District’s Superintendent, Dr. Paul Schrik, had the doll, which resembles the rapper Snoop Dogg like the “Elf on the Shelf” Christmas doll, removed from the School District’s property and discipline was imposed. This incident, however, had nothing to do with Mr. Gibson’s performance evaluation rating or non-renewal. 
• The Board of Education remains committed to providing an educational environment and workplace free of racism, discrimination, or harassment in any form. Such unlawful conduct has never, nor will it ever be condoned in Troy Community Consolidated School District 30-C.