Feel like a sick joke — Colorado’s ‘Counselor of the Year’ allegedly perverted sleepovers to target a female student

Content warning: This article describes child sexual assault. Please take care while reading.

A former Colorado public school counselor, once recognized as “Counselor of the Year,” has been arrested and charged with repeatedly assaulting a student during off-campus “sleepovers,” according to authorities in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Cassandra Poncelow, 40, previously lauded in 2016 as the Colorado School Counseling Association’s Counselor of the Year and a finalist for the American School Counselor of the Year in 2018, is now facing serious allegations of sexual misconduct.

Poncelow threatened suicide “if you tell anyone”

According to Fort Collins police, Poncelow sexually assaulted a female student more than 100 times over several years during so-called “sleepovers” at her home. The victim, now an adult, first met Poncelow in the Poudre School District’s counseling office while still a student.

In court documents, the victim recalled that when she considered going public, Poncelow allegedly threatened to kill herself, saying, “If you tell anyone, I’ll kill myself.”

It was only after the victim came forward in July 2025 that authorities reopened the investigation, halting a prior closure in 2023 when the victim, then a minor, denied the claims.

Poncelow, who has reportedly achieved sobriety, acknowledged to police that she developed romantic feelings for the student and recognized the gross breach of professional and ethical boundaries. According to police records, she told investigators: “Lack of boundary, not okay. The power difference, not okay. It was wrong.”

Poncelow was arrested on August 19, 2025, and booked into Larimer County Jail on severe sexual assault and child sexual abuse felony charges, including one charge related to her position as a mental health professional when the abuse happened.

Poncewlow’s timeline for employment in Fort Collins schools

The Poudre School District stated that the allegations are “deeply troubling” and affirmed that they have cooperated fully with law enforcement throughout the investigation. Authorities have also asked that anyone with additional information or potential victimization come forward.

According to Fort Collins Police reports, Poncelow was employed by Poudre School District from 2007 through 2024. Poncelow remained employed by the school district through September 2024, well after the 2023 investigation had been closed following the victim’s denial.

Her employment continued while serving in various roles that did not involve working with students, including as a success coach, up until about a year before her arrest. She was removed from her position once criminal charges were filed in August 2025.

If you know someone suffering from sexual violence, contact RAINN or the National Sexual Abuse Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.