Gallery: Students Organize Walkout to Show Support for Dr. Leonard

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Posted May 18, 2021

Freshmen Maggie Leonard and Liv Madden alongside others organized a walkout on Friday, May 14, to show support for Vice Principal Dr. Leonard and to protest and bring attention to the lack of women in the district’s administration. Students voiced frustration after hearing Dr. Leonard had been once again denied the principal position at East and that the job had gone to Jason Peres, an assistant principal in the Blue Valley district. Many students and parents, who supported Leonard and her leadership, commented on social media that they were saddened but not entirely surprised to hear the position had been given to a man. “Y’all had a committed, proven and respected leader of the Lancer community in Dr. Leonard…this is appalling,” Former East staff member David Muhammad comments. The comment received 68 likes and several replies. “THIS. Incredibly sad, but not surprised at all,” Abby Margolin replies. District Parent Melanie Apodaca commented on the same instagram post, “Another white man without the credentials of the woman he jumped over. Did I mention she has years of commitment to the district?” The comment received 98 likes. In a district with only one female principal out of the eleven middle and high schools, students walked out of their seventh period classes to protest the standard.

Check out this gallery on Harbie Photo to purchase pictures from this event by clicking the link below:

5.14.21 Walkout for Dr. Leonard

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Hadley Chapman

Hadley Chapman
Senior Hadley Chapman is beyond excited for her fourth and final year on The Harbinger staff as co-head photo editor and can’t wait to soak up every last moment and memory she can from her second family. When she isn’t overthinking every photo from a recent shoot in the back room, you can find her in the SHARE room with her fellow execs, out on the tennis courts or wrangling her zoo of pets at home. Whether it’s brainstorming portraits or begging for validation from Tate, she will find any excuse to be in the J-room and hopes to give back as much to this staff as it has to her. »

Macy Crosser

Macy Crosser
Photo Editor Macy Crosser believes there is no better way to spend her senior year than capturing photos or proofing captions in the J-room for Harbinger! If you can’t reach her (and you probably won’t), Crosser is either at drill team choreo, Kansas City Ballet, AP and IB classes, NHS Service chair meetings, TCP President duties or at dive team. Good luck finding her! In any spare time she has, there is a good chance she’s watching the sunset while listening to Taylor Swift, Celsius in hand. »

Elise Madden

Elise Madden
Entering her third year on harbinger as the head photo editor Elise is excited to take on the year with her co editor Maggie Merckens. Outside of harbinger Elise is involved in lacrosse, deca, student store, link crew, and AP classes. If she’s not taking photos on the sidelines of games, at dance, or babysitting you can find her with her laptop watching movies and shows in her room, or going to get sushi with her friends. »

Eva Berkley

Eva Berkley
Sophomore Eva Berkley is about to start her first year as a staff photographer. When Berkley is not taking action shots of her classmates you can find her in the SME gym playing volleyball, on the field playing lacrosse, doing charity work with The National Charity League, and hanging out with her friends. Berkley is super excited to be a part of the family and can not wait to be with everyone in the J room. »

Emily Pollock

Emily Pollock
Senior Emily Pollock is going into her last year on The Harbinger as a photo mentor. She is excited to spend her senior year at deadlines, in the J-room and on many photo adventures. Outside of The Harbinger she’s involved in tennis, swimming, DECA and lacrosse. When she isn’t shooting, you can find her at Starbucks, Barnes and Noble or hanging with her friends. Emily cannot wait to see what the year brings on The Harbinger. »

Campbell Wood

Campbell Wood
Going into her fourth and final year on Harbinger, senior Campbell Wood is ready to take on the year as co-Online-Editor-in-Chief and Head Copy Editor. Other than a passion for telling people’s stories, Campbell is also involved with debate, forensics, bowling, SHARE, Link Crew, Pep Club, Sources of Strength and serves as this year’s Student Body President. In the little time she spends not dedicated to school activities, you can find her reliving her childhood via Disney+, in the drive-thru at Krispy Kreme for the seasonal special or begging her parents for a goldendoodle puppy. »

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