**Former Preschool for All Director Leslee Barnes to Sue Multnomah County Over Alleged Discrimination and Retaliation**
Leslee Barnes, Multnomah County’s former Preschool for All director who resigned amid controversy this past summer, is preparing to sue the county for alleged discrimination and retaliation leading up to her departure. Barnes, who is Black, claims that the county treated her differently than white male managers and that officials disparaged her in comments to the media, among other grievances. These allegations were detailed in a Jan. 23 tort claim notice obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive.
“As a result of Multnomah County’s discriminatory, retaliatory, and defamatory conduct, Ms. Barnes experienced irreparable economic harm and emotional distress,” attorney Monica Goracke stated in the document. “She lost her employment and future earnings, and she suffered damage to her professional reputation.”
The six-page claim provides Barnes’ first detailed account of events behind closed doors in the weeks before she resigned. The county declined to comment on the potential lawsuit.
### Background: Barnes’ Resignation and Preschool Audit
Barnes resigned from her position on July 31 following a state audit that flagged a preschool she owns for a “chronic” issue of enrolling fewer children than it was funded to serve through the state’s Preschool Promise initiative. This was initially reported by Willamette Week.
It’s important to note that Preschool Promise is distinct from the county’s own widely scrutinized universal preschool initiative, which has faced criticism over its high-income earner tax and a sizable savings account.
Before her 2021 hiring under former county Chair Deborah Kafoury, Barnes disclosed that she owned Village Childcare, a preschool. While she stepped down as the executive director before taking the county job, she did not disclose her ongoing ownership as a potential conflict of interest during her tenure — nor did the county explicitly require such disclosure, according to records.
Barnes told the county she would accept the job on the condition that she could retain ownership of Village Childcare. She assured officials the school would not seek contracts with Preschool for All and transferred management duties to her children.
### Enrollment and Funding Issues Amid the Pandemic
The state audit revealed that Village Childcare received over $833,000 from the state between the 2020 and 2023 academic years. That funding was designated to support 63 preschool seats, but the school only enrolled nine children, reported Willamette Week. Barnes explained that despite low enrollment, the school still had to cover staff salaries and operating costs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The audit did not accuse Village Childcare of wrongdoing but instead focused on state managers who insisted on continuing payments to programs identified for “chronic” under-enrollment by other state workers. The Oregon Department of Justice confirmed it was reviewing the audit report but did not release details on any preschool providers under investigation.
In her legal notice, Barnes attributed many financial challenges to the COVID-19 pandemic and cited documented difficulties with state contracting practices and the organizations responsible for outreach and enrollment.
“Village Childcare had spent the state funding entirely in accordance with its state contract to keep its doors open and staffed at full capacity during the terrifying months of COVID lockdowns and chaos,” her attorney wrote.
### Allegations of Forced Resignation and Unequal Treatment
Two days after Willamette Week’s report, Barnes says she was summoned to a phone call with Multnomah County Department of Human Services Director Mohammad Bader and former Chief Human Resources Officer Travis Brown, who resigned in October amid workplace conduct complaints.
Barnes claims Bader and Brown told her that because she had not disclosed her ownership of Village Childcare, she needed to resign within two hours or face termination.
Barnes, earning $164,832 annually at the time, reportedly reminded them she had disclosed her ownership. Nonetheless, they insisted she resign due to the perceived “scandal.”
On the same day, County Commissioners Julia Brim-Edwards and Shannon Singleton publicly called for Barnes’ resignation and an outside investigation. Barnes contends these statements were made without “even the slightest attempt to investigate the facts,” according to her claim.
Barnes alleges the county’s handling of her case contrasts sharply with its treatment of white male employees in similar positions accused of misconduct. For instance, Brown remained employed for weeks before resigning, though he was on medical leave during part of that time.
The claim also references Jessica Vega Pederson’s former chief of staff and homeless services director, who resigned following a Willamette Week investigation into bullying allegations. Barnes’ attorney wrote, “These examples reveal a pattern in which the county affords weeks or months to white male directors who are publicly accused of misconduct to leave on their own terms and refrains from bashing them in the media. Leslee Barnes, a woman of color who committed no misconduct, received no such protection.”
### Additional Strains and Workplace Exclusion
News of Barnes’ preschool challenges emerged amid political tensions and criticism from Governor Tina Kotek and the state Legislature that threatened the preschool program’s future in June.
Barnes claims she was excluded from “key conversations and meetings” with the county chair’s office during this period, while a white employee who reported to her was included. She asked Bader for help to be included in future meetings but was told, according to Barnes, that “people at the County were more comfortable talking to a white woman” and that Bader “had experienced the same thing as a man of color and a Muslim.” Barnes alleges that Bader took no further action to improve the situation.
Bader has been on medical leave since October and is scheduled to retire on February 16.
### Impact on Health and Current Developments
The stresses and demands of the job reportedly took a toll on Barnes’ health. According to her attorney, Barnes began seeing a mental health provider and exhibited “serious physical symptoms.” She took medical leave in July following the release of the state audit.
Earlier this month, Multnomah County announced its selection for the next Preschool for All director. Danisa McLean, formerly the interim executive director of early learning and director of childcare resources and referrals at Mt. Hood Community College, started in the role this week.
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**Sources:** The Oregonian/OregonLive, Willamette Week, Multnomah County records and statements
https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2026/01/former-preschool-for-all-director-threatens-lawsuit-against-multnomah-county-for-alleged-discrimination-retaliation.html