Former teacher settles lawsuit over pregnancy

GASTONIA, N.C. -- A former Gaston County teacher who was unmarried and pregnant has settled her lawsuit against the county school system.

The Gaston Gazette reported Tuesday that Heather Zampogna received $99,500 in a settlement.

Zampogna filed the federal discrimination lawsuit in March 2007, stating she was demoted a year earlier from an high-performing elementary school class to one with at-risk students. The newspaper reported that at the time she was dating a fellow teacher and discovered she was pregnant with his child. Zampogna was separatedfrom her husband.

The school board's response to the lawsuit had contended the change of assignment wasn't a demotion and that her paid stayed the same.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)