Former teacher says boss fired her believing she was witch

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) - Was she casting spells or teaching spelling?

In an unfolding trial, lawyers are debating a former teacher's claims in a US$2-million federal lawsuit that she was improperly fired from Hampton Bays elementary school because administrators and others thought she was a witch.

Lauren Berrios, 37, who denies ever practising witchcraft, sued in 2001 after she was fired following her second year as a reading specialist teacher. She has since moved to the Atlanta area, where she is working as a teacher. The trial in the lawsuit began Wednesday in New York.

While the school district was not under obligation to explain why Berrios was not granted tenure, its lawyer said Wednesday that Berrios didn't get along with co-workers, had a condescending attitude and was eventually reported to Child Protective Services after telling tales about imaginary injuries to her son.

"It's been quite a long time since we've seen a witch trial in this country," defence lawyer Steven Stern told a jury during opening statements in U.S. District Court.

But a lawyer for Berrios, John Ray, said during his opening statement Wednesday that Berrios was terminated by the principal at the time, Andrew Albano, "after he decided she was a witch."

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