A Denver high school teacher has been stripped of her position after an investigation revealed she required students to perform intimate kissing skits as part of their graded French curriculum.

Jennifer Honka, a teacher at Northeast Early College, was fired by a unanimous vote from the Denver Public Schools Board of Education on May 20. The dismissal followed a rigorous independent review that painted a disturbing picture of a classroom where students felt pressured to engage in “sexualized activity” for the sake of their grades.

“The Neighbors Saw Everything”
According to a report obtained by CBS Colorado, the trouble began when students approached other faculty members, visibly distressed by assignments in Honka’s French class. The skits, which included titles like “The Neighbors Saw Everything” and “The Boring Kiss,” required students to kiss one another.

The report noted that these assignments almost exclusively involved female students. One student, feeling trapped by the power dynamic, reportedly participated in a kiss while feeling deeply uncomfortable. She later circulated a meme among classmates featuring a photo of Honka with the caption: “She makes girls kiss.”

Another student reportedly refused to participate in the act and was handed a zero for the assignment.

A Pattern of Inappropriate Conduct
The investigation went beyond the kissing skits. Officials discovered that Honka frequently shared graphic and deeply personal details with her students, including information about her own sexual history, fertility struggles, suicidal ideations, and experiences with childhood abuse.

While Honka argued that these disclosures were intended to build trust with her students, the independent review—conducted by a state administrative law judge—labeled the behavior “irresponsible and inappropriate.” At least one student who was struggling with their own mental health reportedly left the classroom in distress following these disclosures.

What We Know
The Assignment: Honka utilized scripts that explicitly directed students to kiss, forcing them to navigate personal boundaries in front of their peers.

The Pressure: Students testified that while Honka claimed “alternatives” like fist bumps were available, many felt the expectation to perform was linked directly to their grades.

The Defense: Honka denied forcing the students, maintaining that she offered options for those uncomfortable with physical contact.

The Ruling: Administrative Law Judge Kirchubel concluded that regardless of the “choice,” Honka forced minors to express sexual consent in a high-pressure environment, calling it “incompetence and neglect of duty.”

Why This Matters
This case has sparked outrage among parents and educators, centering on the fundamental right to safety in a classroom setting. Beyond the specific incident, it highlights the thin line between “building rapport” and creating an environment where students feel coerced into compromising their personal dignity.

For the students at Northeast Early College, the classroom was meant to be a space for learning a language; instead, it became a minefield of unwanted intimacy. The unanimous decision to terminate Honka underscores the district’s position that the emotional well-being and boundaries of students must remain the absolute priority, regardless of teaching style or intent.

“The safety, emotional well-being, and dignity of our students are the absolute highest priorities,” a district spokesperson stated. “All schools must be spaces where students feel safe, respected, and supported.”