A high school principal in Washington state resigned Friday after posting on her personal Facebook page that former NBA star Kobe Bryant deserved to die in the helicopter crash that killed him, his daughter and seven others more than a week ago.
Camas County School District Superintendent Jeff Snell said in a statement Friday that he accepted Principal Liza Sejkora’s resignation, which followed public backlash about a social media post she’d made.
“This has been a tumultuous week, however, I’ve been impressed with the level of professionalism our staff members have displayed as well as the caring and compassion from our families,” Snell said in the statement.
The statement also included a comment from Sejkora. She said she was working with Camas officials to resign, and she said: “Students and staff deserve to have a learning environment free of disruptions.”
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Sejkora posted to Facebook on the day of Bryant’s death: “Not gonna lie. Seems to me that karma caught up with a rapist today.”
Sejkora deleted the post later the same day, then posted another comment, stating: “You are free to judge me for the post just as I am free to judge the person the post was about,” reports said.
On Monday, she apologized in a written statement that called her words “inappropriate and tasteless," according to reports by The Columbian newspaper.
Camas school principal: Liza Sejkora on Kobe Bryant's death
Posted by Hawkins Jeana on Tuesday, February 4, 2020
The former Los Angeles Lakers star, his daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in a Jan. 26 helicopter crash in Los Angeles.
Bryant was accused in 2003 of raping a 19-year-old employee at a Colorado resort. Prosecutors dropped a felony sexual assault charge at the accuser’s request. The woman later filed a civil suit against Bryant that was settled out of court.
Sejkora said in a message to families Monday that she wanted “to apologize for suggesting that a person’s death is deserved. It was inappropriate and tasteless.”
She also apologized for the disruption her post caused at school and referred to it as “a personal, visceral reaction.”
“In education, we remind students to think before they post online, especially when feelings are inflamed,” she said. “We also teach our students about context. My emotions and past experiences got the best of me in that moment. We also teach our students that what we share online has permanency.”
By Tuesday, Snell made a public statement on Facebook announcing Sejkora’s suspension pending the outcome of an investigation.
The statement said Sejkora had been put on leave “in light of threats to … Sejkora and concern from our community,” according to reports.
Camas High School Principal Addresses Controversial Kobe Bryant Posts; Issues Appology UPDATE from Superintendent Jeff...
Posted by LACAMAS MAGAZINE on Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Students told KGW-TV that they planned to walk out of class just after 1 p.m. Wednesday for nine minutes — one minute for each victim of the helicopter crash, The Associated Press reported.
Some students expressed disapproval of Sejkora’s comments.
“It’s just really insensitive,” senior Adam Hoteit told the station. “There’s no real position for her to say that. Especially when she’s in such a place of power that she is right now. She represents the school, and that's how everyone’s gonna see this town and this school.”
— Information from The Associated Press was used to supplement this report.
