Dr. Briana Cicero-Johns has taken a stand against what she perceives as systemic discrimination at a North Carolina charter school, highlighting issues of gender inequality and retaliation. On February 12, 2026, Dr. Cicero-Johns filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina against Socrates Academy, Inc., and several of its staff members.
The case centers around Dr. Cicero-Johns’ daughter, E.J., who joined the middle school girls’ basketball team at Socrates Academy in October 2024. Dr. Cicero-Johns alleges that the girls’ team was treated unfairly compared to the boys’ team, receiving inferior equipment and coaching. She claims that when she raised these concerns with school officials, including athletic directors Kristalyn Ianniello and Ashley Minda, principal Vanessa Baker, and others on the board of directors like John Couchell and Demetrios Pourlos, her complaints were dismissed or met with hostility rather than being addressed.
The lawsuit details several instances where the girls’ basketball team was allegedly given old uniforms while new ones were allocated to the boys’ team. This treatment reportedly exacerbated E.J.’s sensory processing disorder, causing significant distress during games. Despite raising these issues repeatedly with school authorities and even attending board meetings to voice her concerns about Title IX violations—laws designed to prevent gender discrimination in educational programs—Dr. Cicero-Johns asserts that no corrective actions were taken.
Instead of addressing these disparities, Dr. Cicero-Johns claims that Socrates Academy retaliated against her family by reducing E.J.’s playing time on the basketball team and imposing unjust disciplinary measures on her son S.J., who also attends the school. Furthermore, after continued advocacy for equal treatment under Title IX, Dr. Cicero-Johns was banned from campus events and publicly ostracized by having images posted at the school’s front desk labeling her as “BANNED.”
The complaint accuses Socrates Academy of violating both federal laws under Title IX and state laws regarding equal protection and non-discrimination in education (N.C. Gen. Stat § 115C-218.55). It also alleges First Amendment retaliation due to adverse actions taken against Dr. Cicero-Johns following her protected speech activities related to advocating for gender equality within the school’s sports programs.
In seeking relief from the court, Dr. Cicero-Johns requests preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to stop further retaliatory actions by Socrates Academy against her family members; compensatory damages for emotional distress; pre-judgment interest; coverage of legal costs including attorney fees; as well as any other relief deemed appropriate by law.
Representing Dr. Briana Cicero-Johns are attorneys Bo Caudill (NC Bar No: 46281), Tomi M Suzuki (NC Bar No: 55561), Precious McLaughlin (NC Bar No: 59869) from Villmer Caudill PLLC based out of Charlotte NC—a firm specializing in business litigation matters like this one involving allegations surrounding public charter schools’ compliance with anti-discrimination statutes such as those found within Title IX regulations nationwide today more than ever before! The case is presided over under Case ID: 3:26-cv-00113.
Source: 326cv00113_Cicero_Johns_v_Socrates_Academy_Inc_Complaint_Western_District_North_Carolina.pdf
