STEWART, Ohio — Several dozen students at Federal Hocking High School walked out of classes Tuesday morning to protest plans to fire Principal Jake Amlin.
At Tuesday’s board of education meeting, Superintendent Jason Spencer recommended non-renewing Amlin’s contract, as well as contracts for middle school teachers Jaclyn Casey and Carrie Towne.
Between 50 and 60 students walked out and gathered in front of the high school entrance beginning at 8:50 a.m. Tuesday morning, according to participants. Many of them returned to class when Amlin warned that those who did not report for third period would receive after-school detention.
However, about 16 students remained in the school lobby at 9:30 a.m. Those who spoke with the Independent said their parents were aware of their actions. Although the students identified themselves, the Independent has chosen to withhold their names to protect their privacy.
Amlin had been the district’s assistant superintendent for student services before he was appointed as high school principal for the 2022–23 school year. Under state law, school districts to give the cause of termination to the affected teacher; no public disclosure is required.
Students voiced strong support for Amlin, whom they characterized as a strict but fair and caring principal.
“He’s been a great principal,” said one student, a senior at the high school. “He’s always been supportive of students.”
That senior and a sophomore both described instances in which they were disciplined for infractions, but praised Amlin’s handling of the situation.
“I got a detention after school, because [my action] was not right,” the sophomore said. “But he talked to me and heard my story. … So he doesn’t just straight jump to conclusion — he actually hears you out.”
Another sophomore said he arrived late to school Tuesday morning and saw the protesters outside.
“I went outside because I wanted to know what was going on,” he said. “I heard that he would get fired, and he’s done a lot for me, so I do not want him to get fired.”
The student said that Amlin helped him kick a nicotine habit.
“He’s put my head straight and got me off of that, helped me get onto a straight path,” the student said.
Amlin and Spencer came out to speak with the students in the lobby. Spencer ejected the Independent from the building before making any remarks.
Around 10 a.m., Amlin and Spencer came out to speak with the students in the lobby; Spencer ejected the Independent from the building before making any remarks. In a Facebook post, The Lady Whistleblower blogger said that some students had received detentions for participating in the walkout.
Several speakers at Tuesday evening’s board of education meeting noted legal protections for students and school employees exercising their rights to free speech. Before delivering his high school report, Amlin indicated that he would take those comments to heart.
“This is my first intersection with First Amendment rights and student activism, and I want to let you know that I will review everything we talked about,” he said. “I see a lot of you out there that are currently subject to disciplinary action, and I just want to give you my word — I will get it right. Which isn’t to necessarily say you will get what you want, but I will make sure that I do my part correctly.”
The board voted 4–1 not to renew Amlin’s contract, with Jenny Leigh casting the sold no vote. Students staged a second walkout Wednesday morning.
This story was updated at 4:53 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, to correct information about the number of detentions reportedly given to participating students and to add information about cause of termination.
This story was updated at 12:36 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, to include information from the April 15 board of education meeting and about a second student walkout on the morning of April 16.
