When School Leaders Mix Personal Trips with Public Business

The All-Expenses-Paid Adventures

Between 2023 and 2024, the former superintendent of Cherry Creek Schools and his wife—who also worked for the district—embarked on two all-expenses-paid trips to Guatemala and Brazil. The journeys were fully covered by private schools in those countries, both of which had business ties with Education Accelerated, a consulting firm hired by the district. But here’s the catch: the trips lasted longer than the official conferences, with extra days booked at upscale hotels—a red flag to ethics experts.

The Money Trail

Before these trips, Education Accelerated had already raked in nearly $3 million from the district. Even more troubling? The superintendent’s wife approved one of the firm’s biggest contracts shortly after returning from Brazil. While Colorado ethics rules prohibit public workers from accepting gifts that could influence decisions, school districts police themselves—with no state oversight. Taxpayers are left wondering: Are lucrative contracts going to the best bidders—or just friends?

A Web of Connections

The relationship between the district and Education Accelerated ran deeper than just business. While the trips were underway, the superintendent and his wife were already socializing with the firm’s leaders. Emails reveal a cozy connection:

• The businessman behind Education Accelerated invited them to a Steelers game in Pittsburgh.
• He later pitched his new startup to the superintendent’s wife.
• Her response? She’d listen to his podcast on the plane—and days later, approved his company’s largest deal.

A Board Out of Control?

Critics argue the school board failed to rein in these deals. Most contracts were approved in quick votes without discussion, and one former board member now admits the board has no real control over the superintendent’s actions. The state stays silent, too—because school districts fall outside its ethics commission’s reach.

Aftermath: Scandals and Resignations

When news broke, the board fired the superintendent’s wife for breaking travel policies. The superintendent had already resigned—though neither gave a reason. Now, the district faces growing scrutiny for failing to detect these conflicts sooner.

Was it corruption—or just carelessness? The answers may never fully surface.