The Denver Public Schools Board of Education on Thursday formally reprimanded director John Youngquist for his behavior toward district staff, which an outside investigation found was “belittling, dismissive and condescending.”
The school board voted 5 to 1 to censure Youngquist, a rare move that came at the request of Superintendent Alex Marrero and after directors already publicly scolded their colleague twice this year for his behavior toward DPS employees.
Kimberlee Sia was the only director to vote against the censure; Youngquist abstained from the vote.
“The decision to impose censure on a fellow board member is not taken lightly,” board Vice President Marlene De La Rosa said. “It is essential that every member of this board uphold the values of equity, professionalism, accountability and respect that our district stands for.”
Youngquist has remained defiant in the face of the investigation’s results, accusing DPS leaders of retaliating against him and refusing to issue a blanket apology.
“I was appalled by the allegations of Superintendent Marrero, certain members of his leadership team, as well as how certain members of the board chose to handle them,” Youngquist said in a statement after the vote.
Thursday’s vote was the second time in four years that a DPS school board has censured a member, which is the strongest step directors can take to rebuke a colleague. The board does not have the authority to remove a member.
A previous board censured former director Auon’tai Anderson in 2021 after a third-party investigation found he flirted online with a teenage student and made intimidating social media posts.
Anderson was among the members of the community who spoke during public comment about the censure vote. “Today, the allegations made against you — you were not cleared,” he told Youngquist. “You must be censured.”
Others spoke in support of Youngquist, saying they have known him for decades.
“(Youngquist) has spent decades championing diverse communities,” said Selene Arca, one of the speakers. “…Somebody didn’t like being held accountable, so he was vilified.”
The board launched the investigation into Youngquist after Marrero, in an email to board President Carrie Olson, accused Youngquist of hostile behavior toward district staffers — especially employees of color — and of wanting his job.
The investigation, the results of which were released last month, found that Youngquist showed biases in his interaction with employees of color, but was inconclusive on whether that bias was deliberate, as the director did not show overt racism, such as the use of slurs.
“Our students, staff and community are watching us, colleagues,” director Michelle Quattlebaum said before the vote. “They need to see that this board dares to confront bias, to learn from it and to grow through it.”
DPS employees, most of whom are people of color, told investigators that Youngquist cuts them off in conversations, has refused to shake hands and declines to meet with them. Staff said the director questions them in a way that it appears Youngquist believes they are lying or unable to do their jobs, according to the report.
Attorneys with the Denver-based firm Garnett Powell Maximon Barlow and Farbes conducted the investigation.
Board member Xóchitl Gaytán said she wanted Youngquist to attend policy governance and anti-bias training — and asked the board to restrict Youngquist’s interactions with district staff, which it ultimately did not do.
“The situation demands decisive board action to uphold professional standards and protect district staff,” she said.
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