BRYANTOWN, Md. – In September 2020, Katelyn Hawkins landed her dream job, as a first-grade teacher at her alma mater, St. Mary’s Bryantown Catholic School. Hawkins discovered she was expecting a baby three years later and gave birth May 30th, 2023; a week before summer vacation. As a result, she started her maternity leave after summer break and returned to teaching January 1st, 2024.
This was Hawkins first child and she was determined to provide breastmilk for the first year due to finances and its health benefits. Prior to returning to work, Hawkins reached out to the principal and advised her she would need to step out of the classroom twice a day for 30 minutes in order to pump breastmilk for her daughter. She was shocked when she was told it was an unreasonable request and would not be accommodated. However, federal law states; “Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), most nursing employees have the right to reasonable break time and a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view to express breast milk while at work. This right is available for up to one year after the child’s birth.”
Hawkins was confronted with a tough choice; abide by the schedule the principal created for her and take a lower paying position at the school as indicated by the principal, or leave the school. After numerous phone calls and emails, Hawkins was left with no choice but to do what was best for her daughter. She took the demotion from Teacher to Aide, which also came with a drastic pay cut.
Hawkins was disappointed and confused by the discrimination and illegal treatment.
Hawkins was the 5th teacher to become pregnant at the school within the past five years.
However, none of the other teachers were demoted or refused accommodation to breastfeed. Furthermore, Hawkins alleges the environment became toxic. Other employees appeared “on edge” around her and she was ignored. As a result, she sought employment with St. Mary’s Public Schools and joined their team in March 2024, where she was warmly welcomed and accommodated to continue breastfeeding her daughter.
A colleague and friend provided a statement but requested to remain anonymous.
“I completely support Katelyn and her claims against her mistreatment. She was given ultimatums about choosing between her classroom teacher position and the pump times she needed as a new mother. The principal, Catherine Silverstone, initially gave her a set of pump times and if those weren’t good enough, she would have to be demoted from classroom teacher to classroom aide. The times given were not possible for a new mother and were spread too far out in the day. Katelyn took the demotion after trying to fight it, and was then treated poorly by Catherine, and often felt like she couldn’t go pump because it inconvenienced Catherine and others.”
We reached out to St. Mary’s Bryantown for a statement. They advised they were unable to comment since this was an ongoing legal matter.
Hawkins wishes to make her ordeal public in order for other woman to be aware of their rights. She hopes her story can help someone else.
Baynet will continue to follow this story.
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