Colorado Early Colleges fires principals of its Fort Collins middle and high schools
Colorado Early Colleges has fired the principals at its Fort Collins middle and high schools for “staff violations" of its Employee Code of Conduct, a lawyer representing the schools confirmed in an email Wednesday evening.
“After several staff complaints, related to staff violations of the Employee Code of Conduct, Jeb Holt and Collin Turbert were placed on administrative leave and, following an investigation, subsequently terminated,” Amber DiCarli of the Charter School Law Group wrote in an email to the Coloradoan.
Holt was the principal of CEC Fort Collins Middle School, while Turbert had been principal of CEC Fort Collins High School.
Colorado Early Colleges is a network of tuition-free public charter schools, authorized by the Colorado Department of Education rather than individual school districts.
CEC operates high schools in Fort Collins, Aurora, Castle Rock, Englewood (Inverness) and Parker, combined middle-high schools in Windsor and Colorado Springs, a middle school in Fort Collins and college-direct opportunities for high school students to take college courses through its accredited partners. CEC also offers part-time enrollment opportunities for home-school and nonpublic school students, according to its website.
Sandi Brown, the chief executive administrator of all Colorado Early Colleges schools, retains oversight and control over all of its campuses, DiCarli wrote in her email.
In letters sent to families of students at both Fort Collins schools, Brown wrote, “CEC received several concerns from staff regarding behavior directed at staff that was not in alignment with CEC’s Employee Code of Conduct.”
She went on to note that none of the allegations or subsequent investigation “included staff members’ conduct with students” and that the investigation “revealed only code of conduct violations against staff.”
Brown referred questions emailed to her by the Coloradoan to DiCarli, who shared the letters sent to families of students at both schools. CEC leadership declined to expand on the nature of the conduct violations that led to the principals' termination.
Karisa Hocke, the academic dean at CEC Fort Collins High School, will serve as interim head of school for both the Fort Collins middle and high schools.
Rick Knable, the campus culture and facilities coordinator at CEC Fort Collins Middle School, will serve as the interim building manager at the middle school, Brown wrote in her letter to families. Rachel Page will be the point of contact for the teaching staff.
“CEC is obligated and committed to investigating all concerns brought forward and strongly believes that a healthy workplace culture leads to a better learning environment for CEC students,” DiCarli’s email read.
Reporter Kelly Lyell covers education, breaking news, some sports and other topics of interest for the Coloradoan. Contact him at kellylyell@coloradoan.com, twitter.com/KellyLyell or facebook.com/KellyLyell.news.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado Early Colleges fires principals of its Fort Collins schools
