Lisa Mesi Philadelphia High School for Girls principal replaced after she denied two graduating students their diplomas following cheers and dancing during presentation and accusations of racism.
The principal of a Philadelphia high school seen on viral video denying at least two graduate students their diplomas following the display of on stage celebration has herself being denied – with the school district announcing the educator has been replaced.
Lisa Mesi, principal of the Philadelphia High School for Girls, was replaced by Janis Butler as a substitute leader at the historic magnet school, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
School District Associate Superintendent Tomás Hanna informed the community in a letter about the change in leadership at the school —albeit a temporary one.
Over-reach?
‘Dr. Butler is excited to support the school community to help set the stage for a successful 2023-2024 school year,’ Hanna wrote, according to the news outlet.
The move comes after the controversial June 9 graduation, which made national headlines when Mesi was seen waving at least two students off as they stepped up to receive their diplomas.
One of them, Hafsah Abdur-Rahman, was captured giddily dancing with a bouquet, leading to off stage guffaws and laughs in what was meant to be a lighthearted moment.
The other grad, Saleemah Burch, drew some clapping when she flipped her hair and made a gesture as she strode up the Kimmel Center stage, the Inquirer reported.
Leaders at the institution, which opened in 1848 as one of the first public high schools for girls in the US, expect graduates to dress in all white and walk across the stage with composure, the Inquirer reported.
‘She stole that moment from me. I will never get that again’
Prior to the ceremony, Mesi told the families that cheering and clapping was forbidden — and warned the graduates that their diplomas would be withheld if the rules were not adhered to.
Abdul-Rahman and Burch claimed being humiliated by the snub and wondered why they were blamed for audience members’ behavior.
‘She stole that moment from me. I will never get that again. I was so embarrassed, I couldn’t even enjoy the rest of the graduation,’ Abdur-Rahman said.
‘I understood the rules because I was saying ‘shh’ in the video. Do not say nothing because I want my diploma. I knew and understood what we were supposed to do,’ she added.
Temporary or permanent replacement?
After Abdur-Rahman reached the end of the stage, she went to receive the diploma, which was in the hands of principal Lisa Mesi. However, Mesi refused to give Abdur-Rahman the diploma and instead instructed her to return to her seat, a command that Abdur-Rahman obeyed.
District officials have said they did not ‘condone the withholding of earned diplomas based on family members cheering for their graduates,’ the Inquirer reported.
‘We apologize to all the families and graduates who were impacted and are further looking into this matter to avoid it happening in the future,’ they added.
Of note, the episode led to some wondering if the decision to deny the two Muslim students their diplomas being predicated on racism.
Meanwhile, Mesi received support from the Girls’ High Alumnae Association.
‘She is a compassionate leader and outspoken advocate for our little sisters,’ the group said in a statement. ‘We are fortunate to have her shepherding our alma mater through incredibly difficult years — through city-wide budget cuts, policy changes and a global pandemic that magnified every obstacle the faculty, administration and our dear little sisters have faced.’
The group also criticized the widespread coverage of the incident.
‘At the onset — and previously shared with all students, families, and other attendees — Principal Mesi clearly communicated the guidelines and regulations for the ceremony with an added dose of warmth and humor,’ it said, the Inquirer reported.
Humor which apparently didn’t go down too well with the principal during what should have been a student’s triumphant moment.
