Chicago school dean forced student to get abortions after impregnating her, lawsuit says

CHICAGO (CITC) — A former Chicago Public Schools (CPS) student is suing the school system for allegedly failing to protect her from a former employee who twice impregnated her.

Brian Crowder, the former dean of students at Greater Lawndale School for Social Justice, was arrested in August 2022 on criminal sexual assault of a minor charges. He is accused of having sex with the female student, referred to as "Jane Doe" in the lawsuit, multiple times between 2013 and 2015, with the student allegedly being impregnated by him twice.

Crowder forced the student to receive abortions during each pregnancy, posing as her stepfather to sign a consent form, according to the lawsuit filed last week. The lawsuit claims the student told a teacher about the sexual abuse, while Crowder himself told other Chicago Public Schools (CPS) employees "who were also grooming students" about his sexual relationship with the student. No CPS employees reported the information, according to the lawsuit.

Crowder was removed from his positionat Greater Lawndale School for Social Justice in September 2021 before later resigning. The lawsuit alleges CPS staff violated state law by failing to report his actions to authorities, ultimately facilitating the former employee's "grooming and exploitation" of the student.

This story is going to anger you because our client was failed twice," attorney Martin Gould said during a press conference last week, adding that the teacher whom the student confided in "put the burden of what to do next on our client."

In a statement to Crisis in the Classroom (CITC) Monday, a spokesperson for CPS said while the district does not comment on pending litigation, it "prioritizes the safety and well-being of our students."

READ MORE | Chicago teacher facing child porn charges after traveling with minor through Miami airport, report says

"We take seriously our responsibility to ensure all employees act in the best interest of our students," the spokesperson said. "Our CPS team follows District policies and procedures as we respond to issues."

Any staff members who receive reports of potential sexual misconduct or abuse are required to notify their school's principal immediately, according to CPS protocols. Staff are also mandated to alert the CPS Office of Student Protections within one day as long as there are no "extenuating circumstances."

The CPS Office of the Inspector General opened an investigation into the allegations against Crowder following his September 2021 removal. CITC reached out to the office to learn the current status of the investigation, but has not received a response.

CPS has repeatedly faced accusations of mishandling reports of sexual abuse by employees. The Illinois Office of the Inspector General took over investigative responsibilities pertaining to alleged abuse by employees after a 2018 analysis by The Chicago Tribune determined 72 CPS officials allegedly sexually abused students between 2008 and 2017.

Have something for the Crisis in the Classroom team to investigate? Call or text the national tip line at 202-417-7273.