Principal failed to report Poncelow, prosecutors claim | Exclusive
This story references sexual crimes against children. Resources have been included. Years before former Poudre School District counselor Cassandra Poncelow was arrested and eventually sentenced to prison for the sexual exploitation of children, multiple people raised concerns about her conduct to Poudre High School's principal, according to the 8th Judicial District Attorney's Office. Prosecutors allege concerns were not handled as required under Colorado's mandatory reporting laws, the office said after Poncelow's Oct. 26 sentencing. "Throughout the investigation, it was determined that several reports were made to the principal of Poudre High School during the years Ms. Poncelow was employed," Kylie Massman, spokesperson for the 8th Judicial District Attorney's Office, said in a statement. "The principal never documented these reports or reported them to law enforcement, as she was required to do by law." Massman later confirmed to the Coloradoan the principal was former Poudre High School leader Kathy Mackay. Mackay led Poudre High School for more than a decade and spent more than 25 years with PSD before her resignation in 2024 , according to previous Coloradoan reporting. She now serves as high school principal at The American Community School of Abu Dhabi, according to the school's staff page on
