DEERFIELD BEACH – The parents of a Deerfield Beach High School student have accused one of their daughter’s teachers of “turning” her gay. The teacher, Juliet Hibbs, is on medical leave from the Broward County School District.

Records indicate that she was investigated and cleared last year for misconduct, after the school principal was contacted by the girl’s parents to complain of her involvement with their daughter. The school district investigation found that the teenager, who was 18 years old, was the subject of harassment from her mother and stepfather after their learned about her sexual identity.

Hibbs reported the abuse to officials. Later, the girl’s parents accused the teacher of contributing to their daughter being gay, and of advising the girl to run away. According to the district investigation, the teen told officials that an abuse counselor told her that being 18 years old meant she didn’t have to legally return to her parents’ custody. The daughter also said that Hibbs was straight and therefore had nothing to do with her own coming out.

Hibbs, a teacher for 10 years, has filed suit against the school district, the principal, and assistant principal with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, claiming that her career is in tatters and that her health has deteriorated as a result of the ongoing intimidation from school administrators.