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.

Investigation Findings

The Denver Public Schools board voted 7-0 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.

According to an independent review, 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, and the student was very uncomfortable and did not know what to do.

The review also found that Honka shared personal details, including fertility struggles, suicidal ideations, and being a victim of child abuse, with her students. She defended her personal disclosures to students in the report, stating that she was trying to build trust with students.

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.’

The Denver Public Schools board stated that ‘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.’

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.