TCC terminates suspended dance instructor after Title IX investigation
ATarrant County Community College dance instructor who was put on leave last week has been given her termination notice, as first reported by the Collegian, TCC’s student newspaper.
On April 13, Kihyoung Choi, who’d taught dance at TCC’s Northeast Campus for nearly 15 years, was pulled out of class and told not to return to campus, according to students. Several students spoke out in support of Choi at the TCC Board of Trustees meeting on April 16. Two of Choi’s students who previously talked to the Star-Telegram were saddened by the potential loss of a respected teacher and said they hoped TCC would allow Choi to keep her job.
But one student made vague allegations of misconduct on the part of Choi at the April 16 meeting. The Star-Telegram was unable to reach the student for further comment. Choi has declined to speak publicly while she appeals the college’s decision, according to her husband, Steve Hwang.
A TCC spokesman previously told the Star-Telegram he couldn’t comment on personnel matters.
Hwang said he hadn’t had in-depth conversations with Choi about her suspension or termination because the college barred her from talking about it with anyone, including him.
The Collegian report said Choi’s suspension and termination are related to a Title IX investigation. Title IX laws prohibit sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs.
According to the Collegian, Choi is being fired for failing to report an alleged situation in which a male dance student was stalking a female dance student. During an interview with TCC’s Title IX coordinator about the stalking complaint in September, Choi allegedly denied knowing about it. But a text message was reportedly shared with the Title IX coordinator that showed Choi was aware of the alleged situation.
Hwang told the Collegian that Choi spoke to the male student involved as a precautionary measure.
Hwang confirmed to the Star-Telegram that Choi had indeed received a termination letter. Her termination is set to take effect in early May, Hwang said, but Choi is appealing the college’s decision.
Choi studied dance in her native South Korea and came to the U.S. to obtain her Ph.D. from Texas Woman’s University. She performed as a member of the Korean National Ballet Company and taught at the University of North Texas before joining the faculty at TCC nearly 15 years ago. She has also served as a guest choreographer at TCU.
“Dr. Choi brings a level of expertise typically found at conservatories in highly selective institutions,” student Joshua Garcia told the Board of Trustees on April 16. “Yet she has chosen to make sure that education is accessible at this level of affordability. It is rare, if not impossible, to find instruction of her caliber elsewhere.”