Former Clovis teacher sues district over alleged sexual harassment

A former Clovis teacher has sued Clovis Unified School District, alleging sexual harassment by Brion Warren, the principal at Century Elementary, and seeking financial damages from the district, Warren and Lisa Peterson. The complaint puts another Fresno County public school employer under scrutiny over how it handles misconduct allegations inside its own buildings.

The case adds to a broader wave of litigation involving California schools, including other recent and historical lawsuits tied to alleged sexual abuse or harassment. A Los Angeles Times article published June 19, 2025, described Clovis Unified as facing a sex abuse lawsuit and linked the district to the wider question of whether Los Angeles’ $4-billion payout has opened the floodgates for similar claims.

Clovis Unified has also been named in other lawsuits involving alleged sexual abuse and retaliation, a pattern that raises questions for parents, employees and administrators across the district. Century Elementary, where Warren is identified as principal, sits inside one of Fresno County’s largest and most closely watched school systems, where accusations involving staff behavior can quickly become a matter of public trust.

The lawsuit centers on the conduct of a school leader and the district’s exposure to liability, not just as an employer but as a public institution responsible for student and employee safety. With the complaint now seeking damages, the case adds pressure on Clovis Unified to account for how it responds when harassment allegations surface among its own staff.