Corey McNellis dedicated 17 years of his life to Ponderosa High School in Parker, CO, serving as a teacher, coach, student council advisor, athletic director and assistant principal. Throughout his career, he was known for his commitment to students, his leadership, and his unwavering support for the school community. In October 2020, everything changed when Corey was wrongfully terminated after expressing his concerns as both an employee and a father about a school play and sharing his Christian perspective in a staffwide email. Despite never receiving less than an excellent evaluation, he was suddenly accused of serious allegations with no prior documentation, and was fired following an investigation into his religious comments.

This experience has brought immense financial and emotional hardship to our family. The pain of being fired without proof or due process, coupled with false character assassination, has made the past five years incredibly difficult. Corey loved his job, his students, and his colleagues. He was a 5A wrestling coach for over a decade, winning state championships and earning the respect and admiration of many. He only raised his concerns because he cared deeply about the school community and wanted to ensure all voices were heard, especially during a time of great division and uncertainty.

We want to emphasize that this is not a partisan issue. No one should lose their career or be ostracized simply for holding different religious or political beliefs. Corey has been unable to find another job in education since his termination, and the impact has been devastating. All parties should be inspired by his story, as it is about fairness, free speech, and the right to be heard. Corey has been silenced for too long, and we believe his story deserves attention and support from people of all backgrounds.

Now, Corey is fighting not just for his own rights, but for the rights of all public school educators who have experienced wrongful termination or discrimination for their religious or political views. The funds raised will go directly to covering the mounting attorney's fees as Corey seeks justice for his reputation, career, and future. We have kept this struggle private, but now we are reaching out for help. Your support will make a real difference in our fight for justice and to ensure this never happens again. Thank you for all the love, support and prayers!