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Mike Molieri, a Menlo-Atherton High School teacher and varsity basketball coach, has taken legal action against the Sequoia Union High School District claiming retaliation and discrimination. Since being placed on administrative leave in August 2024, Molieri has been absent from the classroom and basketball courts while the district investigation continues.
The school district is now involved in at least five lawsuits alleging school administrators engaged in antisemetic practices, wrongful termination and discrimination.
According to the claim, Molieri believes he was “unlawfully placed on administrative leave in violation of the Whistleblower Protection Act” after bringing up his concerns about the district’s treatment of students. It also alleges that Molieri was discriminated against for his Latin heritage and his support for students of color.
Molieri worked at M-A as a special education teacher for 21 years and as the boys varsity basketball coach for 12 years. He’s led the basketball team to multiple championship games.
When his absence was noticed at the start of the school year, students and parents confronted the Board of Trustees during school board meetings asking why he was on leave and when he would return. According to some students, Molieri was known for providing youth with a safe space on campus and acted as a mentor to many students.
The last basketball season passed without the direction of Molieri who has yet to be interviewed as part of the district administration’s investigation into allegations made against him, according to the claim.
The district alleges he violated policies including: failure to notify the district of students he believed needed changes to their special education plan; disclosure of confidential student information to non-district employees; making false statements about students to staff and administrators; and soliciting parents, students and staff to engage in professional services of his brother Dan Molieri, a private investigator for the Law Offices of John Burris. Burris is representing the case involving the arrested M-A student in 2023.
The claim states that Mike Molieri “denies all allegations and denies that any such actions violated any applicable administrative polices or procedures.” It adds that these allegations only arose after he reported his belief that the district was involved in legal violations.
Dan Molieri believes said violations were in relation to sensitive information about the arrest of the M-A student, who was one of Mike Molieri’s students. The student, referred to as K.C. in lawsuits, allegedly had his confidential student records released to the police by an undisclosed person at M-A.
The claim states that Molieri heard of “an audio tape being shared with people that contained confidential information” regarding K.C.
According to the suit, Molieri communicated to administrators about his concerns for the student, confidentiality issues and concerns that he was being targeted due to his relationship with his brother and his advocacy for disadvantaged students of color.
“It was discussed that members of the administration were sharing confidential information that was portraying a minor student in a negative manner and doing so broke the rules of confidentiality as it relates to the Independent Education Program,” said the claim.
Molieri had intended to file a complaint alleging the district had violated federal policies through this breach of privacy, it added.
Leading up to his placement on leave, Molieri was involved in other incidents that date back to 2022 involving false accusations against his colleagues and difficulties with the district administrators
“We strongly believe that this is a case of ongoing harassment, discrimination and most importantly retaliation,” said Molieri’s attorney Harry Stern.
The claim is asking for more than $35,000 for damages including loss of income, emotional distress and damage to reputation, as an unlimited case, meaning the dispute does not involve only monetary loss. Molieri is currently seeking treatment for anxiety and stress as a result of being placed on leave, the complaint adds.
The district was served papers on April 29 and will now have the opportunity to evaluate the claim and decide whether to reject or accept it. If rejected, attorneys will have six months to file a lawsuit against the district.
“My hope is the district will do the right thing and accept responsibility, but we are planning on moving forward with a lawsuit if that is not the case,” Stern said.
The district declined to comment due to privacy concerns, but emphasized that it is committed to transparency and accountability.
