Federal judge says Lee County school district COO could be partially reinstated

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

A federal judge has ruled that Larry Stephens, the former chief operating officer of the Lee County School District, could be partially reinstated if he clears up inconsistencies in his complaints.

Stephens claims he endured racism, bullying, and sexism from former Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier.

The situation began in 2024 with an anonymous whistleblower complaint alleging that Bernier told Stephens to resign or face termination. The complaint also stated that Bernier degraded Stephens in front of other employees, called him "worthless" behind his back, and expressed a desire to remove him because of his race.

Additionally, the whistleblower alleged that Bernier referred to a female employee using derogatory names and likened her to an "obedient dog."

Stephens later filed his own complaint, detailing a pattern of abuse that he said led to serious health issues and forced him to resign.

He claimed Bernier acknowledged his behavior, stating, "Larry, I'm an [expletive], some people don't like me, but I am who I am." Stephens also noted that he had received glowing performance reviews and accolades during his tenure.

The federal judge stated that Stephens must prove the timeline and resolve inconsistencies in his earlier complaints to be reinstated, but even then, the reinstatement would only be partial.

The Lee County School District declined to comment on the case, citing its pending status.

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.