DPS board finalizes dismissal of Lowry teacher Susan Rayburn

The Denver Public Schools Board of Education voted 6-0 on June 22 to accept an administrative law judge’s recommendation to dismiss Susan Rayburn, making the district’s action final unless she seeks court review.

Board records show six members were present, John Youngquist was absent, and the board returned from executive session to approve the recommendation in Denver Public Schools v. Susan Rayburn, Case No. TA 2025-0007.

Meeting materials summarizing the judge’s June 16 recommended decision say Administrative Law Judge Daniel K. Tom found DPS proved by a preponderance of the evidence that Rayburn should be dismissed for insubordination, neglect of duty, incompetency, immorality, and other good and just cause.

The ruling addressed two sets of allegations. The judge found that an April 2025 Lowry Elementary PTO auction counted as a school-sanctioned event for discipline purposes, though it was held at a private venue and hosted by the parent group. The decision summary says the PTO existed to support the school, the event was organized with the principal, and teachers were invited to contribute auction items for students.

The same summary says the judge credited staff witnesses over Rayburn and found she engaged in unwelcome verbal and physical conduct at the auction, including sexualized comments and nonconsensual touching described in the hearing record.

The judge also found that Rayburn failed to meet multiple special-education obligations after moving into a mild-moderate special-education role, including missing IEP deadlines and failures to schedule meetings, send notices, document compliance, and properly conduct meetings with parent participation or notification.

The recommended decision summary also says Lowry’s principal testified she would not have initiated dismissal based on the IEP-management problems alone. According to the summary, the district began the dismissal process because of the auction allegations, with the special-education failures serving as additional grounds.

As of the public records reviewed for this story, there was no public indication that Rayburn had announced an appeal or that DPS had outlined broader personnel, training, or policy changes tied to the case.