Opinion ID: 425244
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Dr. Gloria McFadden

Text: 39 Plaintiff McFadden has been with OCE since 1965. She is currently a full professor. At the time of trial, her salary was $21,874. Dr. McFadden's primary duty at OCE is working with undergraduate and graduate students in elementary education. This duty involves participation in an elementary block program that goes for two or three terms and is followed by supervised student teaching. Dr. McFadden's responsibilities also include advising students and participating on various committees. 40 The district court found that Dr. McFadden's job was substantially equal to that of Dr. Robert Albritton. Dr. Albritton, like Dr. McFadden, teaches in the elementary block program and supervises the subsequent student teaching. He also advises students and participates on college committees. Dr. Albritton earned an annual salary of $23,328 at the time of trial. 41 OCE's primary challenge to the court's finding of substantial equality is that over the course of their respective careers at OCE, Dr. Albritton had taught 20 different courses, of which four were in the 500 level category, while Dr. McFadden has taught but 10 different courses, of which only two were at the 500 level. Thus, argues OCE, Dr. Albritton's job requires more skill than does Dr. McFadden's. OCE further argues that Dr. McFadden's failure to prove that she taught the same number of students as Dr. Albritton, or taught the same number of courses, or even graded the same number of papers, precludes a finding that a prima facie case of job equivalence has been made out. 42 Even if we were to assume that it takes greater skill to teach 500 level courses (and there is nothing in the record to support this assertion), OCE has not shown that there was any significant difference in job content during the 1980-81 school year. Dr. Albritton's greater teaching experience may constitute a valid reason for paying him a higher salary based on merit, but does not compel the conclusion that his job was not substantially equal to Dr. McFadden's during the period in question. 43 As to OCE's other contention, we might agree in the abstract that a substantial disparity in the number of students or classes taught would render teaching jobs unequal. There is nothing in the record to suggest that such a disparity exists here. The district court's finding of substantial equality is supported by substantial evidence and is thus not clearly erroneous.