Denver Public Schools Faces Claims by Ex-Principal, Court Decision Allows Pursuit of legal action
In a significant turn of events, a lawsuit filed by Kurt Dennis, the former principal of McAuliffe International School, against Denver Public Schools (DPS) has advanced. The lawsuit, which alleges wrongful termination for criticizing safety policies, was initially filed in December 2020.
The lawsuit stems from an interview Dennis gave to 9News, during which DPS argued that he made inappropriate remarks. However, Judge John Kane, who presided over the case, has rejected DPS's motion to dismiss the lawsuit. Kane stated that, based on the record before him, the information disclosed by Mr. Dennis is not covered by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
The intended audience for Dennis's speech was the general public via a public news channel. His message, while school-related, was the type of criticism a private citizen could make. Despite this, DPS argued that Dennis violated student privacy rights by giving the media redacted records of a student's written threats.
Since his dismissal from DPS, Dennis has struggled to find employment in an education-related field. He has found work as a paraprofessional, a position that reminds him of why he became an educator in the first place.
Dennis expressed a desire for an apology from DPS, acknowledging that his reputation may not be fully restored. However, this work has come at the cost of his pay and his professional reputation.
In a show of support, Judge Kane stated that Dennis's remarks to 9News were made to a public audience, not limited to McAuliffe International School or DPS. Dennis also expressed a newfound appreciation for whistleblowers and people who speak up at some level of personal risk.
As of August 2025, there are no publicly available updates in the recent search results about this lawsuit. Monitoring local Denver court records or official DPS communications might be necessary to obtain the latest status.
- Dennis's pursuit of justice through the lawsuit, which revolves around education-and-self-development issues, has led him to gain a newfound appreciation for whistleblowers and those who speak up, even at personal risk.
- Despite his struggle to find employment in an education-and-self-development field after his dismissal from DPS, Dennis finds solace in his current position as a paraprofessional, reminding him of his initial motivation to become an educator.
