Ex-KIPP St. Louis principal refutes allegations of attendance fraud

Former KIPP Charter School Principal Denies Falsifying Attendance Records

Jessica Pachak, the former principal of KIPP Inspire Academy in St. Louis, was fired in March amidst allegations of falsifying attendance records. Pachak, who had been in her fifth year as principal, denies the claims made by KIPP officials that she marked students “present” after parents confirmed they were absent 225 times during the 2023-24 school year.

In response to the accusations, Pachak stated, “I didn’t do what KIPP is accusing me of. I’m hopeful the truth will also come to light. Any child I changed was present at school, and I can prove it.”

The inaccurate attendance records were discovered through an internal audit in late February. Kelly Garrett, the executive director of KIPP St. Louis, emphasized the importance of strengthening internal controls to ensure the accuracy of attendance reporting systems across the region.

Pachak, who has filed as a Democrat to run for the Missouri House of Representatives, believes her firing may be connected to her political aspirations. Despite the controversy, she remains committed to advocating for public schools and bringing greater accountability to the education system.

The incident has prompted KIPP to implement new policies, including restricting access to student records and conducting more audits and spot checks to prevent future discrepancies. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education confirmed that KIPP does not owe the state any funds for overpayments related to the false attendance numbers.