A teacher made girls kiss each other for a grade. Now she is out of a job.

Denver school board members voted 7-0 to fire a veteran French teacher after students complained about classroom skits.

School is supposed to be a safe place to learn. But for some teenagers in Denver, a French class turned into an uncomfortable test of peer pressure.

What Happened

On May 20, 2026, the Denver Public Schools board voted to fire Jennifer Honka. She taught French at Northeast Early College for eight years.

Students complained that Honka made them kiss same-sex classmates during graded skits. One skit was called "The Boring Kiss" and required actors to kiss three times.

Some students said they felt trapped because a classroom rule stated "the answer is always yes." Those who refused to join in said they got zero grades or had to walk out.

What the money/evidence shows

0: The number of criminal charges filed by Denver police after an inquiry.
7 to 0: The vote by the school board to dismiss the teacher.
24: The total years of teaching experience Jennifer Honka had.
18: The number of union grievances Honka filed against the district, none of which mentioned unfair bias.
3: The number of times the script for "The Boring Kiss" told characters to kiss.

The Bigger Question

Where is the line between creative teaching and peer pressure? Teachers need freedom to make lessons fun, but students must always feel safe to say no.

We must also ask why it took several student complaints to different staff members before the school board took action.

The Other Side

Honka told investigators she did not force anyone to kiss. She said she let students blow kisses or do fist bumps instead, and one student backed up this claim. She also felt she was targeted because of her sexual orientation.

Based on the evidence, this defense appears weak because other students received zero grades for refusing to play along, and a state judge found her scripts forced kids into a highly personal spot.

What Happens Now

Families at Northeast Early College must now heal from a stressful year. The school will need to find a new French teacher and rebuild trust with parents.

This case reminds schools everywhere to check on grading rules. No student should have to choose between their personal boundaries and their report card.

What We Still Don't Know

Why did it take so long for other staff members to report the students' complaints?
Did any bosses review Honka's scripts before she used them in class?
How will the school support the students who felt forced to participate?

Transparency notes

Published: Jun 16, 2026. No major post-publication update has been logged.

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Sources

External source links were not provided in this article body. Our editors reference publicly available materials and update stories as new verified information arrives.