Former Des Moines Public Schools principal, Fairouz Bishara-Rantisi Martinez, is suing the district for racial discrimination and retaliation. The lawsuit alleges that the district paid her less than her male counterparts for substantially equal work. Martinez, who served as principal of Hoyt Middle School prior to the current school year, applied for the position of executive director of leadership and learning in 2022, despite having 23 years of experience in education and three master’s degrees and a doctorate in educational leadership and administration. She is seeking unspecified damages for violations of the Iowa Civil Rights Act and harassment. The district has yet to respond to the lawsuit.