On his second day of school, Jonathan Escobar was already attracting a lot of attention.
A bright pink wig and high heels will do that to a 16-year-old boy.
Escobar's appearance created an uproar on campus last week after he enrolled at a Kennesaw school. School administrators said their main goal was to keep the student safe, and they made accommodations for him.
When Escobar wanted to use the girls' restroom at North Cobb High School, school leaders knew that would cause a problem. Similarly, they worried about him using the boys' restroom.
"He was the only one out of 2,600 students allowed to use the administrators' restroom," Principal Phillip Page said Wednesday. "And he still used the girls' restroom.
But on his second day at the school, administrators had their hands full.
"The pink wig is a bit much," Jackie Turner said she told the student. Turner, an assistant administrator at the school, said Escobar agreed to let the bright wig "R.I.P."
Two days later, Escobar withdrew himself from school. His guardian, his older sister, never contacted the school.
"We never had a chance to sit down and talk about what was going to be appropriate," Page said. "He chose to withdraw from school."
Escobar, who moved from Miami to live with his older sister in Kennesaw, says he doesn't want to go to school if he's not allowed to dress the way he wants — in women's clothing.
But the dress code for Cobb County schools makes it clear. Clothing that causes a disruption isn't allowed, and North Cobb administrators say they aren't the bad guys.
Escobar's arrival at the school led to fights in the lunchroom, and divided students on whether or not to be supportive of Escobar's outfits. By his second day, there were multiple disruptions at the school, and administrators spent time talking to concerned students.
"Jonathan wasn't aware of it, but we were trying to protect him," Turner said.
Some students quickly came to Escobar's defense.
"Ignorant people are making it a disruption," said sophomore Jarae Constock. "They just need to learn and grow up."
Escobar, who is behind in coursework after starting the school year so late, says he'd like to return to school if he's allowed to express himself. He says he doesn't have to wear wigs, but the female clothing would have to stay.
On a day where Escobar's story was more of a talker than exorcism on a north Georgia campus, Page is ready for the focus to switch back to education.
"The Berry College president should be thanking me," Page said.
Escobar can attend North Cobb again, Page said, and focus on getting a high school diploma.
But first, the principal would like to talk to both Escobar and his guardian to make sure everyone understands the dress code.
"He's a very sweet child," Turner said. "I hope he does come back."
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