During his four years on the Denver Public Schools Board of Education (2019-23), Auon’tai Anderson was a lightning rod for controversy. From his outspoken advocacy on issues of racial justice and gender rights to his at times intemperate attacks on other board members and at least one school leader, Anderson attracted some admirers and, arguably, a legion of detractors.
In 2021, Anderson became the first board member in the history of the district to be censured for his behavior. Specifically, he was found following a lengthy and costly outside investigation to have engaged in inappropriately flirtatious online behavior with a 16-year-old student while a board member. He was 21 years old at the time. He said he ceased communication with the student when he learned her age. He was also found to have sent two social media posts during the investigation that were “coercive and intimidating toward witnesses.” More serious allegations were not substantiated.
Anderson reached out to Boardhawk editor Alan Gottlieb following two recent podcast episodes that mentioned Anderson’s case while discussing the pending censure of board member John Youngquist. He asked to share his perspective on board censures. What followed was a wide-ranging conversation that should be of interest to listeners, regardless of their perceptions of and feelings about the outspoken former board member.
