Akron Public Schools spokesperson Stacey Hodoh filed a federal lawsuit on Nov. 12 alleging retaliation, harassment and bullying by the district. Hodoh claims she was not paid for additional work performed while serving as interim IT director and that she was targeted for defending former custodial supervisor Darian Johnson.
Background and allegations
Hodoh was placed on paid administrative leave on May 8, 2024 after the district received “concerns regarding statements, communications and other escalating conduct” and possible violations of board policy. In her filing she seeks a jury trial, back pay, additional pay if reinstatement is impractical, and other compensatory damages.
The lawsuit lists complaints dating back to 2024. In December 2024, Hodoh alleged that Board of Education member Gregory Harrison tried to intimidate her in an elevator, telling her to “stay in her place” and making menacing remarks. Hodoh also alleges that complaints by white men were handled differently than hers, and that she filed discrimination charges with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission on Dec. 26, 2024.
Pay disparity claims
Hodoh asserts she performed two executive roles—head of communications and interim head of the IT department—from February to December 2025 but was paid for only one. She contrasts her situation with white male employees who received supplemental wages, citing examples such as Steven Keenan, who was paid more than $9,000 in supplemental wages for 11 weeks as interim director of facility services, and Thomas Bruno, general manager of Summit FM radio station, who received overtime pay for work outside regular hours.
Hodoh also says she has been blamed for a cyber attack that occurred six months after she ceased serving as interim IT head.
Connection to custodial supervisor case
On March 27, 2026 Hodoh testified in defense of custodial supervisor Darian Johnson, who filed an administrative appeal after being terminated for entering the district administration building after hours and removing papers in November 2025. Hodoh’s testimony described a hostile‑work‑environment complaint that was substantiated by an outside investigator in May 2025.
Johnson has since filed his own federal lawsuit alleging discrimination, intimidation, retaliation and defamation. Hodod believes her testimony in his support led to further retaliation against her.
Administrative leave and district response
According to Hodoh’s filing, two conversations in early April with APS executive director of school leadership Angela Carter and business affairs director Debra Foulk led to her administrative leave. Hodoh alleges Carter told Superintendent Mary Outley about a disability accommodation concern for a relative, and that Hodoh raised concerns with Foulk about water damage at Pfeiffer Elementary and Essex CLC.
A third‑party investigator hired by the district ruled against Hodoh in July. The district declined to comment, citing pending litigation, and Hodoh also declined further comment beyond the filing.
Employment history
Hodoh was hired in December 2024 at an annual salary of $143,216 to head APS communications, replacing Mark Williamson. Her contract was automatically renewed in 2025 and 2026 while she was on administrative leave and now expires in June 2027. Prior to APS, Hodoh worked as a worksite supervisor, high‑school basketball coach, and held managerial roles at Walmart and Google. She graduated from Buchtel High School in 1985.
Original reporting: Signal Akron — read the source article.
