The impromptu dismissal of a teacher led to commotion at a Statesboro school Friday.

Unaware of reasoning behind the firing of a popular teacher, a group of Charter Conservatory for Liberal Arts & Technology students staged a mini-protest in support of the departing educator.

When police officers were called to escort the woman from the building, students upset about the firing rallied in the school cafeteria.

A group of about five students led a small sit-in, which, ultimately, was ended by officers and resulted in disciplinary action for just one student, Charter Conservatory Director Corliss Reese said.

Parents and students were angered by the sudden, and what they believed arbitrary, discharge of one of their favorite teachers.

Reese, however, said the decision was not unjustified or made lightly.

"(The teacher) has been very unprofessional. This teacher has had low test scores for years. In fact, we had 11 students that did not pass social studies last year - the subject she teaches," Reese said. "A decision had already been made by the board to let that teacher go this year, just not this soon."

What led to Friday's dismissal, Reese said, was an unscheduled meeting with the teacher around noon.
"She asked me what her future at the school was. I told her that we were planning to terminate her, and that she could go now if she wanted," Reese said. "Of course, I would like to have kept that information to myself until after the school year, but when she asked me point blank, I went ahead and told her. I did not want to lie to her."

Taylor Youmans, 16, said the teacher "came out of (Reese's) office in tears. She had been fired. Students were giving her hugs as she packed up her things, and then the cops came to escort her out."

"Students were upset," Youmans said.

And their reaction was swift.

Several students - who were taken outside while the educator was peacefully removed from the building - were frustrated, some crying.

"There were cops and teachers in front of the door, and we couldn't go in," Youmans said. "We were outside for 30 or 45 minutes. Students were either angry or in tears."
One student threw a chair at the school door out of frustration, she said.

"I was scared. Almost everyone out there was in tears or enraged. It was unreal," Youmans said.

When students re-entered the building, a small group of children refused to move from the cafeteria stage, while one student stood and yelled in support of the teacher.

"The officer and teacher left, but the students were still upset, and someone called for an officer to stand by," Statesboro police Public Information Officer Justin Samples said.

The mini-protest was ended quickly.

In the end, only one student - the student shouting protests from the stage - received disciplinary action, Reese said.

"The students were just being students. They were upset. This is what we'd expect from our students. We are a liberal arts school. We expect our kids to speak up when they're mad," Reese said. "Only the one student received disciplinary action for inappropriate comments. I talked to his parents, and they didn't feel I did enough."

Reese met with several concerned students and parents throughout the afternoon Friday to discuss the situation.
A large number of students called their parents as events were unfolding.

Robin Rushing Joyner said the call from her daughter, plus finding police at the school when she arrived, was upsetting.

"I don't see why it had to be handled during school hours," she said. "It just blew my mind."

Michael Pemberton, whose children attend, and have attended, the school said: "From my perspective, as a parent, (this teacher) has consistently been one of the most gifted and dedicated teachers, and her students typically excel. I just think the reason for (the firing) is a crock."

In an interview after the incident, Reese emphasized a necessity for the move.

"We do not have the luxury, as a charter school in need of improving grades, of carrying a teacher just because all of the students love their fun-loving personality," he said. "It was hard for me to do this today, but we have got to find a way to get our high school at a higher level."

According to Reese, Friday's events did not disrupt normal class time, as students and teachers were using the day to celebrate recent successful Criterion-Referenced Competency Test results.

Staff Writer Holli Deal Bragg contributed to this report.

Jeff Harrison may be reached at (912) 489-9454.