Colorado students report same-sex peers were made to kiss during class assignment, teacher fired
An independent review found 24 years of experience did not outweigh repeated disclosures and skit assignments that the judge said had little educational value.
- On May 20, the Denver Public Schools Board voted 7-0 to terminate Jennifer Honka, a French teacher at Northeast Early College, following an independent review into student complaints about classroom assignments.
- Students reported being pressured to kiss during graded skits in April 2024, with several telling staff they felt uncomfortable and one walking out, according to the April 30 independent review.
- Administrative Law Judge Keith J. Kirchubel ruled Honka's actions amounted to "incompetence and neglect of duty," noting her skits forced students to express preferences regarding personal, sexualized activity on the spot.
- Honka claimed discrimination based on her sexual orientation and appealed the termination. The Board upheld her firing after Kirchubel supported the district's recommendation to dismiss the 24-year teaching veteran.
- The Denver Police Department investigated the incident but filed no criminal charges. The Denver Classroom Teachers Association stated safety concerns "must be taken seriously and addressed with care.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Hastings Tribune
Denver Public Schools fires teacher accused of making female students kiss during class skits
DENVER — Denver Public Schools fired a teacher accused of making female students kiss each other in class and of exhibiting other inappropriate behavior, including sharing what a judge referred to as “sensitive and potentially traumatizing information” in class.
DPS fires teacher accused of making female students kiss during class skits
Denver Public Schools fired teacher Jennifer Honka, accused of making students kiss each other in class and of exhibiting other inappropriate behavior, including sharing what a judge referred to as "sensitive and potentially traumatizing information" in class.
Denver teacher fired after students report feeling pressured to kiss same-sex peers
A Denver middle-school teacher was fired last month after a district investigation and an independent review found her script choices for graded classroom skits had placed female students in a position of feeling pressured to kiss one another.
Teacher fired after allegedly asking students to kiss in classroom skits that counted toward grades
A Colorado teacher has been fired after an investigation found that students were allegedly asked to kiss classmates during classroom skits, with some reporting they felt pressured to participate because the performances counted toward their grades.
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