“I would like the position at Braswell High School, the Athletic director, head coach to be replaced as it is right now,” Dustin Sharp said.
DENTON COUNTY, Texas — A Denton ISD student is calling for the removal of his football coach, claiming the team’s leadership has created a toxic environment that’s causing athletes to quit.
Braswell High School student Dustin Sharp addressed Denton ISD trustees during public comment at Tuesday night’s board meeting. The 17-year-old, who will begin his senior year this fall, used his three-minute window to voice concerns about campus athletic director and head football coach Kent Laster.
During his speech, Denton ISD Board Members sat attentively. Sharp explained to WFAA his hopes after speaking in front of the school board for the first time.
“I would like the position at Braswell High School, the Athletic director, head coach to be replaced as it is right now,” Sharp said. “I feel like the path that it’s on right now, it’s only gonna hurt the students and affect them more. The students are just going through mental pain that they just can’t keep on going through, and it’s turned into a bad scene.”
Sharp submitted a petition signed by nearly 400 people in support of his request.
He claims Laster’s leadership has been “manipulative and demoralizing,” and not one that fosters growth or encouragement for student-athletes. A former Braswell High School football player and a current athlete attended the school board meeting with their families to support Sharp.
WFAA reached out to Coach Kent Laster by telephone for comment, but did not get a return call.
Denton ISD confirms it was notified this week that a grievance has been filed at the Braswell campus. The district released a statement saying, “To protect the privacy of our employees, we are unable to provide any additional information at this time.”
The district does have a grievance procedure that starts at the campus level first. It moves to the district level if not resolved.
Although personnel matters are often listed as discussion items for the board’s executive sessions, Denton ISD spokesperson Nick Petito could not confirm whether Sharp’s complaint was addressed privately in executive session by trustees during Tuesday’s meeting.
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