Denver board member obtains restraining order against district critic

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Denver School Board Vice Chairman Auontai Anderson has obtained a restraining order and filed a criminal complaint against district vocal critic Brandon Pryor, who recently won a court victory reversing Denver Public Schools’ efforts for him prohibit access to district property.

The pair agree they had a falling out on Friday morning over Andersons’ vote in December to move the school founded by Pryor, the Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy, from its current location to a former elementary school miles away of the far northeast community it serves. But their accounts of what happened differ.

In an affidavit filed in Denver County Court and in an interview with Chalkbeat, Anderson said Pryor insulted him, used abusive language and threatened him at his workplace. Pryor said he worked in the same building and stopped by regularly. He said the affidavit was a lie, that he never threatened anyone, and that Anderson insulted him first.

Anderson also filed a municipal criminal complaint against Pryor on Monday. A Denver Police Department spokesperson declined to release a police report on the incident, citing an open investigation.

The restraining order issued Tuesday is temporary, according to the Denver County Court. A hearing is scheduled for February 7 to determine whether it will be extended.

The restraining order requires Pryor to stay 10 yards from Anderson in public forums and 100 yards from Anderson. Pryor is not authorized to contact Anderson while the order is in place.

Pryor attended Tuesday’s school board meeting with his wife and several Robert F. Smith STEAM parents and students who all spoke out against moving the school.

The podium was farther from the dais than usual, roughly lining up with the sixth row of audience seats rather than the front row. District spokesman Scott Pribble said he must comply with the restraining order while allowing Pryor to attend the meeting.

In an affidavit in support of the restraining order, Anderson said Pryor insulted him, used racial slurs and told Anderson to meet him outside and he would meet me at the outside.

The clear significance of his statements and actions was that I felt physically threatened, in danger, and that I believed Mr. Pryor would harm me physically, the affidavit states.

Anderson said he agrees with the county court judges’ decision not to ban Pryor from board meetings and opposes the previous district ban that Pryor was challenging in front of the federal court.

Anderson said he asked for the restraining order reluctantly and only because he perceived Pryor was aggravating their disagreements.

I am an unpaid elected official, Anderson said. I love serving on the Denver School Board. I shouldn’t be afraid to come to my private workplace because of a vote I took on the school board.

Auontai Anderson, seen here speaking out against school closures in November, said elected officials deserved to feel safe at work.

RJ Sangosti / The Denver Post

Pryor said the affidavit was completely false and filled with lies.

I work in the same building, just down the hall, he said, adding that he visits Anderson’s workplace, the Struggle of Love Foundation, two or three times a week.

Pryor said Anderson responded angrily when Pryor wanted to talk to him about the school’s move, particularly the claim that the principal of Smith STEAM Academys supported him. Pryor said families at the schools were divided and some were angry with the headmistress because they blamed her for the impending move.

Because he didn’t have a valid answer for me, he got defensive, and now he’s the victim, Pryor said.

Pryor said he insulted Anderson after Anderson insulted him, but he didn’t use the language Anderson accuses him of using. He said he didn’t ask Anderson to meet him outside.

I didn’t threaten anyone, Pryor said. We all fall short in the heat of the moment, swearing and all that. I answered him. I feel like he fell short. He is an elected official and he should listen to his constituents.

Pryor and Anderson were once political allies, and each expressed disappointment and sadness at the situation. Anderson said he viewed Pryor as a big brother or mentor, and Pryor said he defended Anderson against accusations that he was too young to serve on the board and again when he was accused of sexual misconduct. An independent investigation found no basis for the most serious allegations against Anderson.

Pryor, a parent, community activist and football coach, provided the initial vision for the Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy, a high school modeled after historically black colleges and universities. Before the school opened in 2021, the district promised to find him a forever home, but at Tuesday’s meeting, Pryor, along with parents and students, said the Barrett Elementary site didn’t was not acceptable.

In the 1960s, Barrett was used as part of a plan to keep black children out of predominantly white schools in the Park Hill neighborhood, a plan that eventually led to the desegregation case of the city. Keyes school. Parents and students cited this story, along with the building’s size, its location 9 miles to the far northeast in a largely gentrified neighborhood, and the lack of a clear transportation plan to say that Barrett was not the right home for their school.

In mid-October, the district served Pryor with an eight-page letter barring him from accessing district property except schools attended by his sons. The district also barred him from volunteering as a football coach and from speaking at the public comment portion of school board meetings.

District officials said the decision was made based on a long pattern of conduct towards district staff, including shouting at and insulting people in person, over the phone and in virtual meetings.

But a federal judge said the ban was not warranted.

Pryor had sued Denver Public Schools, alleging the district violated its First Amendment rights, and the judge ordered the ban lifted before that case even went to trial. The district is appealing the decision.

Bureau Chief Erica Meltzer covers education policy and politics and oversees education coverage for Chalkbeat Colorados. Contact Erica at [email protected].

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