Months after his removal as Superintendent of District 16 in Brooklyn, Brendan Mims filed a lawsuit against the Department of Education, the former schools chancellor and a deputy chancellor for alleged gender and human rights violations.
The lawsuit, filed in December in the Southern District of New York, alleges that former city Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos and Danika Rux, the Deputy Chancellor of School Leadership for New York City Public School, allegedly conspired to get Mims fired from his job because of his gender, offered him a demotion with less pay, and failed to provide clear information as to why he was removed.
The lawsuit comes after questions by D16's public school community, which covers much of Bedford-Stuyvesant, over the dismissal of Mims, a Black male educator, in April 2025. Many of D16's parents and community leaders had high regard for Mims, citing his improvement of the district's math and reading scores.
Mims alleges the DOE saw him as a good fit for D16, but not the kind of leadership they wanted, according to the court filing. The suit also said Community Education Council 16 President NeQuan McLean made "false and misleading accusations" against him, though what those accusations specifically were are not mentioned.
The suit also said Rux told Mims in March 2025 that there were complaints against him from D16 parents, though he was not told what those complaints were.
Mims also felt discriminated against because of his gender, as the DOE officials were seeking a female leader for the role, the suit alleges.
The plaintiff was "appalled, threatened, embarrassed, humiliated and emotionally harmed" by how he was treated and was soon diagnosed with Acute Stress Disorder, the suit says.
Supporters of Mims hope the educator will get some answers through the lawsuit.
"I thought it was a necessary step when the grievances or the community protest was not being listened to at the highest level of New York City public school system, and even in the previous city administration," said Dr. Shango Blake, the chief executive officer of the nonprofit Black Influencers United. "So I think the next natural step was to try to repair some of this damage through going through the legal process."
Afiea Pitt, who's child is a D16 student, recalled being dismayed over the lack of information.
"Where was the transparency?" she said. "Where was the documentation to show that he should be removed? I do feel like not every parent in District 16's voice was heard. The community deserves answers."
Attempts to contact Mims and his attorney, Luwick Francois, were unsuccessful. Both the DOE and CEC16 told BK Reader they were unable to comment on active litigation.
Assemblymember Stefani Zinerman, who had been closely watching this issue, felt more was happening to Mims than she expected.
"I really didn't know he was suffering from that degree," she said. "And that happens in the workplace most of the time, but certainly this escalated. Brendan [had] shared that it didn't seem that no matter how much he engaged and wanted to work together, there was always a problem and not anything that was centered on how children and families are treated...but more style of engagement versus what one is being paid to deliver for the children and families."
The case may not go to trial for years, if it does at all. Education Attorney Laura Barbieri explained that the legal process, including discoveries and depositions, can take a long time in a federal court.
"Litigation is an extremely lengthy process," Barbieri said. "A small fraction go to trial, and 95% are settled or dismissed. I doubt answers will come except in a verdict."
