Parents, teachers and a school counselor used the district’s public‑comment period to oppose the nonrenewal of Frost Elementary Principal Dan Thornton, saying his removal damaged school morale and followed a year marked by lost supports.

Speakers told the LAE board that Thornton’s leadership brought stability after prior turnover and that the Frost community was shocked by the decision not to renew his contract.

Taisha (Tyesha) Hernandez, who identified herself as a Frost parent, said she was “incredibly disheartened” to learn the principal would not be renewed after a year in the post. Hernandez told trustees the school lost a leader who “made a significant and positive difference” and asked what appeal avenues are available after she said she had raised the matter with district staff.

Teacher Brianna Tyrone said, “In Mr. Thornton you had someone who loved his job, his staff, students, and the city of Lawrence,” and described a principal who visited classrooms daily, engaged families, and helped build staff morale. Tyrone said Frost has had turnover in school leadership in recent years and that the community is “grieving what we feel is an incredible loss.”

Rebecca Bridal, another Frost teacher, echoed the praise, saying Thornton “was charismatic, personable, kind, humble, hardworking, and most importantly passionate about his job,” and saying the principal’s removal “shattered” the morale he helped build.

Emily Cromer, a school counselor with 33 years at Frost, urged the board to recognize that staff who “speak out for what’s right” have faced consequences. Cromer and others detailed a pattern they said included a lack of some specialized supports this year: an educational team facilitator vacancy until October, a BCBA reassigned before school began, and a principal nonrenewal that staff connected to advocacy for students. Cromer said Frost has one of the district’s highest needs for BCBA support and questioned whether adequate replacements were hired.

Speakers requested district transparency about staffing decisions and supports and urged the board to prioritize retention of administrators and specialists who, they said, advocate for students and families. The public-comment speakers did not propose a specific board motion; no board action on the principal’s employment status was taken during the meeting.

The public‑comment period closed after multiple speakers spoke in favor of retaining Thornton and in support of stronger district responses to staff requests for student supports.