Jefferson County – School board members Thursday voted 5-0 to fire a teacher they said bullied parents and harassed students to the point that they feared going to school and suffered emotional problems.
Susan Romeo, who taught third- and fourth-grade gifted students at Coronado Elementary School, had been on administrative leave with pay since October, when the district began investigating allegations against her.
Romeo appeared shaken by the decision but said it was important to her to attend the special board meeting.
Her attorney, William Maiko vich of the Colorado Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union, said Romeo has the option of appealing to the Court of Appeals or filing her own civil suit against the Jefferson County School District. Romeo said she wasn’t sure what her response will be.
District Superintendent Cindy Stevenson recommended to the board in March that Romeo be fired, saying she had a pattern of demeaning, intimidating and harassing students, teachers and parents.
Romeo also failed to have appropriate sexual boundaries, such as leaning over to expose her breasts to a student, the district alleged.
Romeo said a group of parents and teachers had targeted her because she is gay.
By firing Romeo, the board upheld the recommendation of Nancy Connick, a hearing officer who took testimony from parents, students and district representatives in May and June.
Staff writer Karen Rouse can be reached at 303-820-1684 or krouse@denverpost.com.
