'School principal of the year' is suspended over controversial Trump remarks

An Ohio 'school principal of the year' was suspended after sending staff members a controversial message following Donald Trump's election victory last week.

Monica Asher, 43, the principal of Olentangy Orange High School, is the subject of controversy over a newsletter she sent to staffers of the school where she discussed the results of the presidential election.

'I can't write a message that pretends like the election didn't happen; especially when so many of you are struggling with how to move forward,' she wrote on Monday.

'I know you are struggling with how to move forward with your students who are afraid, but also how to move forward with colleagues that don't share your views.'

'This week, I saw the pain, uncertainty and division,' she added. 'I have to be honest, I am not entirely sure how to tell you how to move forward.'

The Lewis Center resident offered words of encouragement in processing the incoming president's landslide victory over Vice President Kamala Harris - despite the fact that Trump soundly won Delaware County.

In the message, she said the school would continue to be a place where 'showing compassion and respect to those around us is a priority, where we recognize the humanity, dignity and worth in every person we meet.'

Asher also wildly compared the country's future to an approaching 'storm' that needs to be met 'head-on', The Delaware Gazette reported.

But the words landed her in hot waters with the school district - and with the internet.

This past Wednesday, dozens of X users expressed their anger over the situation under a post of the newsletter, which was shared by an account titled 'Crisis in the Classroom'.

One irate viewer wrote: 'Her job is to promote education through leadership, not to indoctrinate ideology. How about separation of political ideology and state.' 

'What a narcissist,' another wrote. 'Absolute main character syndrome here.'

'Good grief, why do I suspect that school is covered with safe space stickers,' another added. 'Make the entire school safe and fire her a**.'

Todd Meyer, the Olentangy Local School District Superintendent, released a district-wide message to staff on Thursday, informing them that Asher had been pulled from the building on administrative leave, ABC 6 reported.

He claimed that the move is a 'procedural step to protect the integrity of any district investigation'. 

Meyer also noted that Ellie Ellis, the current assistant principal of the high school, would serve as the lead administrator as the district initiates their investigation, 10 WBNS reported.

'The best interests of our students and staff remain our top priority,' he said. 'And we will work to ensure students, families and staff are not impacted further.' 

The Olentangy Local School District also released a statement, noting that they were aware that the newsletter 'did not represent the official opinion of the Olentangy Schools Board of Education'.

'We recognize current events can be controversial topics that surface in our classrooms and buildings,' the statement added.

'The Board of Education expects all professional staff members to maintain high standards in their working relationships, and in the performance of their professional duties, to refrain from using their position for partisan political purposes.' 

Olentangy district parents have also expressed their opinions on the matter - many of them feeling as though politics and education should be kept separate.

'A little bit shocked that we're kind of sending our opinion out to others,' Allie Forsythe, a district parent, told NBC 4. 'I think everybody is kind of in a different spot right not and different feelings.' 

'Politics is politics. Education is different than politics,' said Kyungho Kim, another district parent.

But despite Forsythe and Kim disagreeing with Asher's actions, they aren't sure that she should be losing her job over it. 

'A conversation definitely needs to be had,' Forsythe added.

'I think one thing was very extreme, I don't know if responding in a very extreme manner is the way to go as well.' 

Asher was formally the principal of another Ohio high school in Chagrin Falls before arriving at Olentangy Orange High School, which coincidently hosted Trump in the school's gymnasium during one of his political rallies back in 2018, ABC 6 reported.

In 2022, she was recognized for her hard work and dedication to her students - discussing how she was able to stand strong as a front line leader during widely uncertain times surrounding the pandemic and political battles that were seeping into schools.

In August of that same year, a survey conducted by the National Association of Secondary School Principals discovered that nearly 40 percent had plans to quit in the next three years, Education Week reported.

But Asher wasn't one of those people.

'No - in case that was the question,' she told the outlet. 'This is exactly what I'm supposed to be doing.'

Just last year, Asher was chosen as the Ohio principal of the year.

She is also currently the president of the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators.