Colorado Springs School District 11 Ombudsperson, Natasha Bullard Kaonohi, filed a lawsuit last week against D11 Deputy Superintendent Brandan Comfort and Superintendent Michael Gaal, alleging that Comfort stole confidential files from her office at Gaal’s direction. As ombudsperson, Kaonohi is responsible for assisting D11 staff members, students, parents, and community members with confidential, impartial, and independent informal and formal complaint and conflict resolution. The lawsuit, released on Facebook by the parents group D11 Echo, alleges that Comfort used a master key to enter Kaonohi’s office and remove three to five confidential files.
“All of the stolen files contained Plaintiff’s attorney work product and trade secrets including, but not limited to, a listing of employee names, confidential, informal staff member complaints with highly sensitive employee information, disclosures, and allegations against District 11 employees, District 11 board members, and members of District 11 senior administration that would be detrimental to the employees who disclosed it, as well as Plaintiff’s documented mental impressions, opinions, and/or legal theories,” the lawsuit notes.
Among the files removed from Kaonohi’s office were complaints made against Gaal. “All of the stolen files contained numerous District 11 employees’ highly sensitive, confidential, informal complaint information and disclosures,” the lawsuit claims. “The informal employee complaints and concerns contained in the stolen confidential file labeled, ‘Superintendent,’ were specifically about Defendant Michael Gaal and were not formalized by the complaining District 11 employees due to fear of retaliation from Defendant Michael Gaal in his capacity as Superintendent of District 11.”
In December 2025, Gaal recommended termination of McAuliffe Elementary School teacher Angelica Givler-Viers months after she took part in the district-wide strike and spoke at a rally for strikers in Acacia Park. Gaal cited “insubordination, neglect of duty and/or other good and just cause” for Givler-Viers’ dismissal during a Dec. 3, 2025 D11 Board of Education meeting.
According to the lawsuit, “Gaal was previously subject to a lengthy investigation by the previous attorney who held the Ombudsperson position at District 11 following a formally filed employee complaint. Accordingly, Defendant Michael Gaal would have great personal interest in confidential complaint information held by and within Plaintiff’s Ombudsperson Office.”
After reporting the files missing, Kaonohi claims Comfort tried to deter her from pursuing the case further by reading her excerpts from a daily horoscope book. “Defendant Brandan Comfort [read] aloud excerpts to Plaintiff from Defendant Brandan Comfort’s so-called “birthday book” (The Secret Language of Birthdays: Your Complete Personology Guide for Each Day of the Year by G. Goldschneider) during a one-on-one staff meeting with Plaintiff, including the following excerpt from Defendant Brandan Comfort’s personal birthdate page: “Those born on this day have a one track mind when it comes to following their plans, and if necessary, battering their competitors, rivals, or detractors into submission. [Defendant Brandan Comfort’s date of birth] people do not make the most pleasant of enemies, both because their wish to annihilate is so pronounced and their inclination to grant mercy doubtful. On the other hand, they make excellent allies and friends, at least to those who stay on their good side; to do so may require remaining loyal to a shared cause or set of principles.” Defendant Brandan Comfort then read aloud the following excerpt from Plaintiff’s personal birthdate page after asking Plaintiff’s date of birth, “[Plaintiff’s date of birth] people must beware of hubris, bringing about their own downfall through a disregard for the consequences of their actions on the lives of others.“ Defendant Brandan Comfort read these excerpts aloud to Plaintiff during a one-on-one staff meeting in an effort to intimidate Plaintiff as Plaintiff’s direct supervisor, and to deter Plaintiff from reporting Defendant Brandan Comfort and Defendant Michael Gaal as having stolen the above referenced confidential files and attorney work product.”
Kevin Coughlin, president of the Colorado Springs Education Association (CSEA), called for the dismissal of Gaal and Comfort.“If a fragment of the allegations made in this case filing are true, it is enough to warrant the immediate dismissal of the Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent,” he said in an email. “This filing outlines severe examples of corruption, cover-up, and intimidating behavior that is all too familiar for D11 educators. From community members to his employees, this superintendent has shown a pattern of intimidation, bullying, and harassment. This pervasive culture has made talented educators flee the district and profession, harming our students and our entire community. The school board needs to take these allegations seriously, place the Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent on leave immediately, and conduct a thorough, independent investigation.”
In 2024, D11’s board voted to allow the master agreement with the CSEA to expire, voting 6-1 to end the contract, the only master agreement in El Paso County, which had been in place for over 50 years.
D11’s executive director of engagement, Jessica Wise, declined to comment on the lawsuit. The D11 Board of Education released a statement claiming that an independent investigation was unable to substantiate Kaohoni’s claims.
“The District 11 Board of Education acknowledges the civil complaint filed against Superintendent Michael Gaal and Deputy Superintendent Brandan Comfort,” said the statement on behalf of the board. “We take any concern raised by an employee seriously. Accordingly, legal counsel for the District retained an independent third party to conduct a thorough investigation of the allegations against Superintendent Gaal and Deputy Superintendent Comfort. The independent investigation is complete, and the findings did not substantiate allegations of wrongdoing by Superintendent Gaal or Deputy Superintendent Comfort. Based on these findings, the Board remains confident in Superintendent Gaal and Deputy Superintendent Comfort’s continued leadership of the District and will evaluate any new information as it becomes available. Because this matter is pending litigation, the Board will not comment further on the specific allegations, evidence, or claims. We will allow the legal process to proceed while District leadership continues its work on behalf of our students, staff, and community.”
The lawsuit comes as D11 is asking voters for a $775 million bond measure on the November 2026 ballot. The funds would go toward repairs at D11 facilities and increasing teacher pay.
