DENVER (KDVR) — After a series of sexual assault allegations, the Denver Public Schools director announced he is stepping back into his role after more than a month off.

Tay Anderson posted an open letter to the Denver School Board, with a call to get back to work.

“Today after much prayer and consultation with family I am announcing that I am returning to my full duties as a duly elected member of the Denver School Board. This is effective immediately,” Anderson said in the letter.

Anderson stepped back from his duties after two separate sex assault claims: that he sexually assaulted at least one woman and a claim that he sexually assaulted more than 60 students.

Anderson has categorically denied these claims.

In a press conference Wednesday, Anderson said he contemplated taking his own life in May.

Watch the full press conference in the FOX31 NOW player below

“Not because I felt guilty of anything I was being accused of, but because I could no longer bear the weight of my community thinking I was a sexual predator or that my family was attacked in public spaces,” Anderson said.

Anderson said he’s committed to making sure there are necessary tools to prevent suicide among young people in the City and County of Denver.

He also expressed concern over the length and scope of the investigation, saying it’s gone beyond the original timeframe, and he doesn’t feel like his work on the school board can wait.

“I don’t know if anyone else realized, we’ve been in a pandemic and we have to make sure our students —especially our unvaccinated students — make sure they have the best health standards going forward,” Anderson said.

Anderson’s attorney, Chris Decker, who’s also a legal analyst for FOX31, said Anderson has been “falsely accused.” He said no person has come forward with any more details about the allegations and that police had not contacted Anderson in the investigation.

FOX31 asked the Denver Police Department if there are any filings against Anderson. DPD said that because of the sensitivity of the entire situation, they are not providing comment on actions the department may or may not be taking.

One week after Anderson was first accused of sexually assaulting a woman, Denver’s Board of Education has authorized “a thorough and independent fact-finding investigation,” into the allegations.

According to Anderson, the independent investigation’s scope broadened following unproven allegations he assaulted more than 60 students. He says the investigation will not be completed for another four or five weeks. Anderson says he has fully cooperated with that investigation to this day.

“Although I remain committed to engaging in a transparent and fair process, I can no longer wait for this process to conclude to initiate my return to serving the families of the Denver Public Schools,” Anderson said in his letter.

The Denver Board of Education released a statement during Anderson’s press conference:

Although there are no public Board duties for the month of July, we are very much aware of the importance of resolving this investigation so the Board can get back to the work of supporting our students, schools, and educators when they return to school in August.

One of the reasons that the Board launched this investigation was because, consistent with our values, we believed a young Black man deserved due process and a fair evaluation of anonymous allegations that were made on social media. We hired independent, neutral, and trained investigators to review these claims. Because they are independent, it is not our role to tell them to shut down their investigation early, before they believe they have gathered and reviewed all available evidence.

It’s also important to note that the Board does not have authority to suspend Director Anderson from his duties. Director Anderson voluntarily agreed to step back from his duties during the remainder of the investigation. The Board has taken no action that would prevent him from attending and participating in all the Board meetings in August.

Denver Public Schools Board of Education

Re-watch Anderson’s full press conference: