At the September 17 Denver Public Schools Board of Education public comment session, 14 people addressed the board and community about allegations leveled against two board members by the board President Xóchitl Gaytán, with an assist from Superintendent Alex Marrero.
The board is to discuss later in the meeting wheher to take any disciplinary action against board members DJ Torres and Monica Hunter, both of whom were elected in November 2025. The allegations against Torres basically center around allegations from Gaytán that he has at times shirked his duties as board treasurer and an board member.
The allegations against Hunter include her having made antisemitic remarks about fellow board member Amy Klein Molk. But she is also accused of violating policy by meddling in operations, and possible conflicts of interest related to her work as an employee of the Colorado Education Association.
Two comments stood out, so we are publishing them here.
Grace Goodman
Hello, my name is Grace Goodman. I’m a DPS alum, East class of ’05, a current DPS parent, and President-Elect of Carson Elementary’s PTA. East High, and later the University of Michigan, taught me the same lesson: our words matter.
From where I sit, I see ugly, mean, bigoted words dressed up as progressive virtue. As parents, as community members and as Elected officials, you have a responsibility to model how you work with people of all walks of life. Your words and exclusionary behavior prove that not only do you not care to model it, you don’t care to do it, either.
When I read that the antisemitism allegations and the vicious language, I felt personally slapped across the face. What is wrong with you
What’s more, this is a district-wide pattern. Jewish families, students, and staff are entitled to the same dignity DPS extends to every other community. Instead: September’s district-wide PD day was scheduled on Yom Kippur, one of Judaism’s holiest days; the equivalent of scheduling it on Christmas or Easter. And when Asian American Heritage Month got a full slate of programming and celebration, Jewish American Heritage Month — announced days later — got a form email. No programs, no mention of the historic rise in antisemitism. The absence was hurtful and out of touch. Words. Matter. It’s easy to see that that rot comes from at the top.
But here’s what matters most: every minute this Board spends on this is a minute not spent on all kids. It’s hundreds of thousands of dollars that could have done immeasurable good, thrown away. This isn’t a distraction from your job — it is a failure of your job. And Dr. Marerro, as Superintendent, it is your responsibility to rise above this and fight back on behalf of all students. Holding onto this painful information until it was politically convenient for you is gross. You are not exempt from accountability here either.
DPS calls itself a “Safe and Welcoming School District,” committed to protecting every student “regardless of immigration status, national origin, religion, or race.”
Prove it.
Vernon Jones Jr.
President Gaytán, members of the Board, Superintendent Marrero:
My name is Vernon Jones Jr. I am a DPS parent and Leader of FaithBridge. There is an ancient truth that feels particularly relevant tonight:
A house divided against itself cannot stand.
We seem to be divided in this moment. Divided by accusations. Divided by mistrust. Divided by questions about process, power, relationships, and accountability.
And when the adults entrusted with governing a school system become consumed by division, eventually children pay the price.
So let me be equally clear:
Antisemitism has no place in this house.
Anti-Blackness has no place in this house.
Racism, hatred, and discrimination have no place in this house.
And neither should allegations this serious be reduced to politics, personalities, or factions. They deserve the truth.They deserve a fair, independent, and credible process. And where the facts establish wrongdoing, they deserve accountability.
But President Gaytán, Superintendent Marrero, and members of this Board:
You also have to repair this house.
Because Denver’s children are counting on you. They are counting on the adults in this room to build a district where every child is seen. Every child is heard. Every child is supported. Every child belongs. Every child learns in a great school. And every child has the opportunity to achieve their hopes.
You cannot make that promise to children while modeling division among adults.
You cannot ask students to build community while leadership demonstrates dysfunction.
You cannot teach young people how to navigate differences while the adults entrusted with their future cannot navigate their own.
So investigate what must be investigated.
Establish the truth.
Hold people accountable.
Repair relationships.
And get this house back in order.
Because governance matters.
Accountability matters.
Leadership matters.
But children are the mission. And they are counting on all of us to do two things:
Make the promise. And keep the promise. A divided house cannot do either.
