Denver District 3 Board Member Donald Torres Resigned
The Denver Public Schools board must now appoint a replacement for the seat within 60 days.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Administration
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Denver Public Schools District 3 board member Donald Torres resigned from his position on Oct. 1, 2026, after serving less than a year on the board. The resignation follows recent school board discussions regarding alleged neglect of duties and biased behavior.
Why it matters
The departure of a board member shifts district representation and necessitates an appointment process to ensure District 3 residents continue to have their interests addressed. The board now faces a tight timeline to fill the vacancy as it manages internal governance concerns.
The school board is required by policy to appoint a replacement for the vacated District 3 seat within 60 days. If the board fails to reach an agreement, the board president holds the authority to name a new member to finish the term.
The players
Donald Torres
A former teacher at Denver Public Schools who served less than one year on the board representing District 3.
Denver Public Schools
The local school district managing board governance and student policy for the city.
Monica Hunter
A board member who faced allegations of neglecting responsibilities alongside Donald Torres.
Scott Esserman
The candidate defeated by Donald Torres in the 2025 election for the District 3 school board seat.
The details
The board began evaluating allegations against Donald Torres and fellow member Monica Hunter on Sept. 17, 2026, citing issues like missing meetings and neglected responsibilities. An agenda item scheduled for the Oct. 1 meeting further addressed claims of antisemitic and biased behavior involving the board members. The process for replacing a member includes an appointment by the existing board, which will now take place under heightened scrutiny given these documented conduct concerns.
Timeline
2025: Donald Torres defeated Scott Esserman in the school board election.
Sept. 15, 2026: Hunter and Torres posted a statement on Facebook.
Sept. 17, 2026: The board discussed alleged violations against Torres and Hunter.
Oct. 1, 2026: Donald Torres resigned during the school board meeting.
Nov. 2, 2027: The next scheduled school board election will take place.
The Home Front
This vacancy triggers the formal appointment process defined under local district governance bylaws. It marks a significant shift in school board leadership following recent oversight concerns regarding member conduct and meeting attendance.
District 3 families should monitor the board's upcoming meeting schedule to see how the vacancy is filled, as the appointee will represent their household's interests until the next election. Residents can contact the board office to learn how to provide input on the replacement selection.
The takeaway
The board is now tasked with appointing a representative for District 3 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation. Parents and residents should verify their district boundaries and track future meeting agendas to participate in the selection process.
What happens next
The board will hold a meeting to formally accept the resignation and begin the appointment process, which must conclude within 60 days.
Further reading
For more information on local education governance, visit the Denver Administration section.
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