Denver teacher fired after review allegedly found her classroom skits forced students to kiss

A French language and culture teacher at Northeast Early College in Denver has lost her job following an investigation into classroom skits that allegedly pressured students to kiss their classmates, according to CBS News. The Denver Public Schools board voted 7-0 to terminate teacher Jennifer Honka for “incompetence and neglect of duty”.

The vote reportedly followed an independent review, dated April 30. According to the outlet, the review found that Honka had at times suggested that students kiss one another during in-class skits.

The independent review reportedly found that the students who were encouraged to kiss were always of the same sex. Some students reportedly said they felt pressured to take part because the performances counted toward their grades.

Independent review details student accounts of classroom performances

One student reportedly told a chemistry teacher at the school about the skits in April 2024, stating that she felt very uncomfortable and did not know what to do. The student also said she went ahead and kissed another student on Honka’s direction. 

She then shared a digital meme with the chemistry teacher featuring a photo of Honka with the caption “she makes girls kiss,” which had apparently circulated among students. The student’s attendance reportedly decreased significantly after the incident.

A separate student who was interviewed directly for the independent review testified that Honka always selected girls for the skits, despite the class having a nearly even split between boys and girls. The student said she could not recall Honka ever choosing a boy for the roles. She also said she refused to participate and testified that she received a zero score on the assignment as a result.

Another student reportedly walked out of the class. An English teacher at the school testified that several students approached her as well, with one student described in the independent review as appearing “upset and defeated.” That student told the English teacher she had been asked to kiss three other girls during one of Honka’s skits.

The skits in question were said to be titled The Neighbors Saw Everything and The Boring Kiss, with the latter reportedly centered on characters who were dating. One student said Honka maintained a classroom rule stating “the answer is always ‘yes,'” which was allegedly used to encourage participation in the skits. 

The performances were reportedly held every two weeks and counted toward students’ performance grades. Honka had disclosed to the class that she is a lesbian and identifies as an LGBTQ supporter, per the outlet’s reporting. Jennifer Warren, the principal at Northeast Early College, filed a police report with the Denver Police Department after a third student came forward describing kissing during the class skits, according to Fox News. 

Honka reportedly testified that she did not force students to kiss and said she offered alternatives such as blowing a kiss or a fist bump if students were uncomfortable. One of the complaining students testified in the independent review that Honka “would allow students to pretend to kiss”.

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

However, one student who was reportedly struggling with suicidal thoughts walked out of her class. Keith J. Kirchubel, the Colorado administrative law judge who conducted the independent review, wrote 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.” 

He added, “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.” Kirchubel also stated, “[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.” Other cases involving educators facing scrutiny over their classroom conduct have also surfaced recently, including a separate incident in which parents exposed teacher’s disturbing classroom behavior caught on security footage. 

Honka now appears to be listed as an English language development teacher at Malley Drive Elementary School in Northglenn, Colorado. Scott Pribble, director of external communications for Denver Public Schools, told Fox News Digital in a statement 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.” 

Pribble said the board’s vote followed “a thorough district investigation and an independent review by a state administrative law judge,” and that it was determined Honka’s 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.”