Cruzita Mendoza, a former Tolleson Union High School District employee, is suing the district, alleging retaliation related to her participation in a probe into Superintendent Jeremy Calles’ conduct. The case is headed to mediation.
According to azcentral.com and The Arizona Republic, Mendoza, a former district employee, sued the district, alleging retaliation in connection with an investigation involving Superintendent Jeremy Calles.
Mendoza’s lawsuit is headed to mediation. Neither Mendoza, the district, nor Calles responded to requests for comment from the newspaper.
What Mendoza Told Investigators
Mendoza says she participated in an investigation into Calles, a central issue in her retaliation lawsuit.
A Separate Relationship Scandal Engulfed the Board
Calles filed a Title IX complaint against Luna-Nájera in 2024, while she was serving as both board president and an Arizona state representative for Phoenix, accusing her of making unwanted advances toward him. A separate sexual-harassment investigation concluded in September 2024 and, as reported by 12news.com, found that Calles and Luna-Nájera had in fact engaged in a sexual relationship. Kino Flores read a statement saying it was inappropriate for Luna-Nájera to pursue the relationship, consensual or not, because she held power over the superintendent. The school board later voted to adopt those findings, with Luna-Nájera abstaining; she remained board president at the time and declined to comment.
Calles separately has a lawsuit concerning a low performance review issued by Luna-Nájera. Former principal Felipe Mandurraga said a toxic workplace and continuous harassment from Calles led him to resign, according to KJZZ.
State Lawmakers Order a Special Audit
The turmoil has drawn the attention of the Arizona Legislature. The Joint Legislative Audit Committee unanimously approved a special audit of the district, according to KTAR.
Auditors are also expected to scrutinize district finances tied to Calles’ push for an $80 million domed football stadium slated to open in 2028, as well as a land transaction with the neighboring Isaac Elementary School District. KJZZ reported the district purchased Isaac buildings for $25 million, while KTAR described the deal as a $20 million transfer to Isaac Elementary. The scrutiny comes against a backdrop of struggling academic outcomes: in 2024, Tolleson students posted average proficiency rates of just 26% in English and 22% in math, both below the state average, per KJZZ.
Legal Questions Still Unresolved
Arizona Revised Statutes § 38-532, maintained by the Arizona Legislature, bars reprisal against an employee for disclosing information about a matter of public concern, though how that statute applies to Mendoza’s specific claims remains unresolved.
Whether Mendoza’s termination amounted to unlawful retaliation remains an open question for the courts to decide.
