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September 12, 2011
Judge Tom
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4

Straight A student with highest GPA denied valedictorian title

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Kymberly Wimberly graduated from high school on May 13, 2011 from McGehee Secondary School in Arkansas. Except for one B in English, she earned straight A’s. Many of her classes were Advanced Placement and honors courses.

Since Kymberly had the highest Grade Point Average at the school, she was told she would be the class valedictorian. The last African-American valedictorian in the McGehee School District was in 1989. A press release was issued announcing Kymberly’s accomplishment. Coincidentally, it was sent out by her mother who works at the school as a media specialist.

Word spread quickly and within a few days, the school’s principal told Kymberly that a white co-valedictorian was being named – a student with a lower GPA. Kymberly’s mother, Molly Bratton, attempted unsuccessfully to appeal the decision to the school board. She was told that she could address the board at its next meeting at the end of June. Kymberly graduated in May 13, 2011 and now attends the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in the Science Tech Engineering and Math program.

Kimberly

In July, 2011, Kymberly and her mother filed a discrimination lawsuit against the school claiming a violation of her 14th Amendment equal protection rights. The school is predominantly white with 46% of the students being African-American. Kymberly’s mother claimed hearing comments about her daughter’s race and the “big mess” that would result from her designation as class valedictorian.

Kymberly seeks punitive damages of $75,000 from the school. Punitive damages are defined as money awarded to an injured plaintiff in a lawsuit that is considered punishment for willful behavior, in order to set an example for others.

For an interview with Kimberly about her accomplishments through high school and the challenge of having a baby when she was a junior, see here.

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The Author Judge Tom

Judge Tom is the founder and moderator of AsktheJudge.info. He is a retired juvenile judge and spent 23 years on the bench. He has written several books for lawyers and judges as well as teens and parents including 'Teen Cyberbullying Investigated' (Free Spirit Publishing) and 'Every Vote Matters: the Power of Your Voice, from Student Elections to the Supreme Court' (Free Spirit Publishing). In 2020, the American Bar Association published "Cyberbullying Law," the nation's first case-law book written for lawyers, judges and law students. When he's not answering teens' questions, Judge Tom volunteers with the American Red Cross and can be found hiking, traveling and reading.

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4 Comments

  • Tulsa Marriage Counseling
    September 20, 2011 1:31 pm count( 0 )

    That sounds like something that would have happened back in the 1950s.

  • Oklahoma City Divorce Attorneys
    September 20, 2011 8:09 am count( 1 )

    I hope she wins her lawsuit.

  • Tulsa Divorce Attorneys
    September 12, 2011 2:09 pm count( 2 )

    That’s just wrong!!!