Denver Schools Fire Teacher Jennifer Honka in 7-0 Vote Over Graded Kissing Skits

Q: After 24 distinguished years, what classroom skits led to a veteran teacher's public firing?

The skits at the center of Jennifer Honka’s firing were graded in-class French role-plays that included students being directed to kiss classmates, often other girls. The two scripts identified in reporting were **“The Neighbors Saw Everything”** and **“The Boring Kiss.”** “The Boring Kiss” was cited as especially troubling because it involved dating characters and instructed them to kiss multiple times. Students told investigators they felt pressured to comply because the skits counted toward their grades. One student reportedly received a zero after refusing, and others said they were uncomfortable being asked to perform same-sex kissing in front of classmates. An independent review and an administrative law judge found the exercises crossed professional boundaries. Judge Keith J. Kirchubel said the skits forced students to express consent or refusal about a “very personal and sexualized activity” in front of peers, calling Honka’s use of them “irresponsible and inappropriate.” Honka denied forcing students to kiss and said she offered alternatives such as blowing a kiss or using a fist bump. But Denver Public Schools ultimately accepted the findings that the skits, along with other inappropriate personal disclosures to students, amounted to incompetence and neglect of duty. That led the school board to vote 7-0 to terminate the veteran teacher after 24 years in the classroom.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 17

A May 20 board vote terminated Jennifer Honka after Denver Public Schools found students were asked to kiss classmates in French skits tied to performance grades.
An April 30 independent review said the same-sex kissing scenes repeatedly involved girls, with students describing pressure to comply because Honka allegedly pushed participation under a classroom rule that “the answer is always yes.”
Students reported fallout that included one receiving a zero after refusing, another walking out, and a third seeing attendance drop sharply after kissing a classmate at Honka’s direction.
Administrative law judge Keith Kirchubel wrote that even without physical force, the scripts put students on the spot to reveal consent and comfort with a sexualized activity before peers and a teacher controlling their grades.
Denver Public Schools said student safety and dignity drove the firing, while Honka testified she offered alternatives such as pretending to kiss or using fist bumps.