MARIETTA, Ga. — Dozens of people had to stand outside the school board chambers during the board's meeting Tuesday night because it was packed inside.
They all came out to advocate for Forrestella Taylor, the principal at Marietta High School.
Marietta High School junior Braxton Simpson held a sign honoring her principal during the meeting.
"My sign says Ms. Taylor is a second mom to me," Simpson said. "She has consistently pushed me to my highest potential."
Simpson says Taylor is her role model. She's the first African American principal at the high school. She's worked there less than a year, but students say she's made a big impact.
"She has actually helped me get accepted into a summer camp at Princeton this summer," Simpson said. "She's been a very important person in my life."
Marietta City Schools announced Monday it's appointing Taylor to district administrator for accountability and program support.
Parent Arthur Vaughn believes the appointment is just a way to push Taylor out of the district, at a time when the school is thriving.
"She's creating change in culture and the way we look at and work with our young people, and some people find change uncomfortable," student Amber McTier said.
The crowd supporting Taylor exceeded 100 parents, teachers and students. Since there was no public comment portion, they wore white to make a statement.
"We're trying our hardest to show people we really do want her as a principal, and that we feel that there's no reason for her to even be moved from that position," one student said.
School leaders gave us the following statement:
It says: "While some at Marietta High School would like to have Ms. Taylor remain in the role of principal, we believe she has remarkable skills that are beneficial to the high school in addition to the other ten schools in the district."
There's a meeting next week that will include public comment.
Cox Media Group
