Colorado teacher fired after students allegedly pressured to kiss classmates in skits
A Colorado teacher has been fired after an investigation found 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.
CBS News reported Monday that the Denver Public Schools board voted 7-0 on May 20 to terminate French language and culture teacher Jennifer Honka at Northeast Early College for "incompetence and neglect of duty," finding she had at times allegedly suggested that students kiss during in-class skits.
The outlet reported that an April 30 independent review, a copy of which was obtained by CBS Colorado, found that the students who were allegedly encouraged to kiss were always the same sex.
"One student told an NEC chemistry teacher about the skits in April 2024," CBS News reported. "The student was very uncomfortable and did not know what to do," the report said. "She went ahead and kissed another student at (Honka)'s direction. The student then shared a digital meme with (the chemistry teacher) that included a picture of (Honka) and the caption 'she makes girls kiss.' The meme had circulated among the students."
Per the report, following this incident, "the student's attendance decreased dramatically."
Additionally, CBS News reported that "One student interviewed directly in the independent review also testified that Honka always selected girls to act in the skits. Despite a nearly 50/50 split among boys and girls in the class, the student ‘could not recall Honka choosing a boy actor.’ This student refused to participate and testified that she received a zero score for a grade on this assignment."
Another student reportedly walked out of the class, and an English teacher at the school "testified that several students approached her as well. One of the students ‘appeared upset and defeated,’ as stated in the independent review. ‘The student told (the English teacher) that she had been asked to kiss three other girls in one of (Honka)'s skits.’"
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According to the report, the skits where Honka asked students to kiss were titled "The Neighbors Saw Everything" and "The Boring Kiss," which was about characters who were dating.
One student reportedly said that Honka had a classroom rule that went, "the answer is always 'yes'" which was used by Honka to encourage students to participate in the skits, which were biweekly and part of their performance grades.
Honka had allegedly disclosed to the class that she was a lesbian and an LGBTQ supporter.
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Jennifer Warren, the principal at Northeast Early College, filed a police report with the Denver Police Department following a third student who said there was kissing during class skits.
CBS News reported that Honka testified that "she did not force students to kiss and would give them alternatives such as blowing a kiss or ‘fist bumps’ if they were uncomfortable. One of the complaining students, in fact, did testify in the independent review that Honka ‘would allow students to pretend to kiss.’"
The report also alleged that Honka shared personal details, including fertility struggles, suicidal ideations, and being a victim of child abuse.
She defended her personal disclosures to students in class in the report stating that she was trying to build trust with students, but one student who was struggling with suicide reportedly walked out of her class.
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Keith J. Kirchubel, a Colorado administrative law judge, wrote in the independent review that, "Regardless of whether (Honka) 'forced' the participants to kiss, her choice of script forced them to express their preferences and consent about a very personal and sexualized activity on the spot in front of their peers."
"They were also forced to determine whether they were comfortable dissenting from the direction of the script to their teacher, who was in a position of control over the situation," he continued.
"[W]hile the notion of using skits as a way to teach French Language may have been effective in general, the way it was implemented by (Honka) was irresponsible and inappropriate," Kirchubel said.
Honka now appears to be listed as an English language development teacher on the website of Malley Drive Elementary School in Northglenn, Colorado.
Scott Pribble, director of external communications for Denver Public Schools, told Fox News Digital in a statement, "The safety, emotional well-being, and dignity of our students are the absolute highest priorities of Denver Public School. All schools must be spaces where students feel safe, respected, and supported."
Pribble continued, "Following a thorough district investigation and an independent review by a state administrative law judge, the DPS Board of Education voted unanimously to terminate the employment of Jennifer Honka. It was determined that her actions did not protect the best interests of the children in her classroom."
He added, "We commend the bravery of the students who came forward to report these incidents, as well as the school staff who acted immediately as mandatory reporters. We remain fully committed to upholding the highest standards of professional conduct and ensuring our classrooms remain safe spaces for all."
Fox News Digital reached out to Honka, Warren and Kristin Powers, principal at Malley Drive Elementary School, for comment but did not immediately receive responses.