New Principal Chosen for Denfeld High School

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth Public Schools officials announced on Tuesday that a new principal has been chosen for Denfeld High School.

After a thorough search process, former Assistant Principal Tom Tusken has been picked to serve as the new Denfeld Principal and will begin his new position in August.

According to a recent press release, Tusken has previous experience as Assistant Principal, Dean of Students, Barr Program Coordinator, PBIS Team Member & Coach, and football coach for Denfeld High School, District Social Studies Curriculum Specialist, and Social Studies teacher for both Denfeld and Duluth East High Schools.

Tusken is taking over the position previously held by Tonya Sconiers who was fired by the school board back in July 2019 for ‘inappropriate conduct.’

Sconiers has since filed a federal lawsuit against ISD 709 claiming that she was retaliated and discriminated against for speaking out against district leadership regarding policies and practices as well as the hiring of Duluth School District Assistant Superintendent Jeffrey Horton.

In September, the Duluth School District responded with a statement through its attorney Monday at Rupp, Anderson, Squires, and Waldspurger, P.A.:

“The District has not yet had an opportunity to review the complaint in detail and therefore cannot comment on any specific allegations. Based on the representations Ms. Sconiers and her counsel have made to the media, the District vehemently denies the allegations that it or any of its administrators engaged in discrimination or violated Ms. Sconiers’ free speech rights. The District’s disciplinary decisions related to Ms. Sconiers, including her discharge, were based solely on Ms. Sconiers’ inappropriate conduct.”

At this time the federal case is still ongoing.