JOHNSON COUNTY, Kan. — A lawsuit against a former Blue Valley Northwest dance mom in a racial discrimination case was dismissed last week.
Judge John Lungstrum dismissed the charges against Katie Porter, a teacher at Blue Valley Elementary School, who was listed as a defendant filed in U.S. District Court for Kansas in January by former Blue Valley Northwest dance team member Camille Sturdivant.
Sturdivant alleges she was discriminated against by being excluded from team dances and activities because of her race.
The case lists defendants as Carley Fine, coach, Kevin Murakami, choreographer, Amy Pressly, principal, and Katie Porter, teacher, and mother of another dance team member.
Fine was fired after Sturdivant and her parents showed the school's principal screen shots of text messages between Fine and choreographer Kevin Murakami.
The suit alleges that because Porter was present at dinners with her child she was acting as an educator for the district, and excluded Sturdivant due to her race.
The judge dismissed the claims against Porter on Thursday because there were no allegations that Porter had knowledge or understanding that Sturdivant had been excluded.
The court also said Porter had no supervisory role over Fine and acted as a parent rather than an employee of the district.
The Case against Fine is ongoing.
