North Cook News

Former Glenbrook South Principal Lauren Fagel “objectifies women publicly and engages in inappropriate behaviors on an ongoing basis.”

That’s according to meeting notes released on Monday by Glenbrook School District 225 Superintendent Charles Johns.

The notes were part of a 1,067-page document dump in response to a Freedom of Information request related to the resignation of Fagel, 49, of Vernon Hills, first hired in 2015.

An unnamed staff member documented their April 28 meeting with an also unnamed school whistleblower. Fagel would resign July 6. The district agreed to pay her $53,000 and to cover her health care costs for the remainder of 2021.

“I find myself in tears in the car every morning and every day after work. I feel physically sick when I pull into the parking lot,” the whistleblower is documented as having said. 

“I avoid going out at lunch just so I don’t have to deal with the feeling I face when I pull in. I just can’t manage the emotions anymore--I think sharing openly will give me a sense of freedom and serve as a voice for everyone in the district that this information has impacted.”

“Lauren would often inquire about their sex life”

According to the notes, the whistleblower called Fagel “warped” and said she “has a history of ongoing use of sexual references.”

“Lauren takes no pause in talking about women’s bodies publicly. I can’t help but think that if she were a man this would be considered much more alarming.”

In Administrative Council, Fagel “consistently refers to a wife of (redacted) as ‘big boobs.’”

“When two GBS employees started dating, Lauren would often inquire about their sex life, asking if they dressed up like a patient and a nurse,” the whistleblower said. “When climbing a rope in PE class, Lauren yelled down to a group of administrators and a class full of students to ‘stop looking’ at ‘her ass.’

“She then yelled ‘fuck you’ to one of the onlookers.”

The whistleblower said Fagel is known for “extreme use of profane language.”

“During one (Administrative Council) meeting, when she was challenged, Lauren called the challenger a ‘dick.'”

“After another challenge, (Fagel) mocked an (Administrative Council) member as if she were acting like a toddler using drama to display fake tears and a temper tantrum.”

The whistleblower called her “vindictive” and said she “had the Parent Foundation Gift that was presented to recognize a former administrator’s service to GBS removed.”

The whistleblower says they “started processing all of this” and decided to go public after the district had sexual harassment training on Nov. 23, 2020.

The whistleblower blamed Bradley Swanson, the assistant superintendent for human resources, for ignoring reports of Fagel’s behavior.

“Brad Swanson heard and did not respond to an admittance of objectification of a woman. Lauren Fagel admitted to this behavior and I heard it firsthand,” the whistleblower said.

“I believe Brad Swanson has completely ignored his role to maintain a safe environment for all, and because he has failed to do so, Lauren Fagel’s unprofessional behaviors include bullying, consistent use of profanity, suggestive sexual remarks and objectification of women have had a negative impact on GBS and the district as a whole,” the notes reported the whistleblower as having said.

“I’m not apologizing for his inability to have any spine”

The document dump included text messages from a group chat for Glenbrook South’s Administrative Council, which includes Fagel and Associate Principals Cameron Muir, Lara Cummings, Mark Maranto, Ron Bean and Casey Wright.

In the messages, Fagel expressed her dismay with Johns for “his inability to have any spine at all with (District 225 Board President) Bruce (Doughty).

Doughty, an attorney with Massey & Gail LLP, has been board president since 2019.

In another thread, Fagel called District 225 Special Education Director Jennifer Pearson “aggressive and nasty” and “a complete bitch,” claiming she did a “crappy job” with the district’s Teaching Life Skills program.

Fagel, who has a Doctor in Education from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, titled her dissertation "The Impact of the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction on High School Students with Disabilities."

Fagel warned in another text against putting “thoughts about reopening plan in email.”

“People are so stupid and thoughtless,” she texted. “We are getting FOIAs right and left.”

Former District Communications Chief Karen Geddeis, per a Fagel text, is “an idiot” for asking her whether the district was required to “release a photo if media asked.”

“Ummm… I asked her to please find out what whether we are (required) or (is it) optional,” Fagel wrote. “Unfuckingbelievable.”

Bean responded, “we should not release anything.”