Rob Burnside, the principal of Lakota East High School in a Cincinnati suburb, resigned his position after allowing a homeless student to remain enrolled despite district residency requirements. Burnside and his wife, Angel, eventually invited the student, Landerius "DeDe" Hayes, to live in their home and became his legal guardians.
The situation began during Hayes' junior year when the school district notified the principal that Hayes' mother had moved to an address outside the district. Because the mother no longer resided within the local boundaries and Hayes was considered homeless, the district directed that he be withdrawn from the school. Burnside stated that he initially processed the withdrawal but subsequently allowed Hayes to continue attending classes while the student lived at the Burnside residence.
Burnside reported that district officials informed him they no longer viewed him as an effective leader due to his decision to bypass the residency rules. He was placed on administrative leave and given the choice between resigning or facing termination proceedings. Burnside chose to step down, noting that while he can no longer find work as a principal in the local area, he does not regret the decision.
The financial and professional impact on Burnside is ongoing, as he stated he remains unable to secure a principal position in the immediate region following the district's action. This sets a precedent for how school administrators may be disciplined for prioritizing a student's housing and educational stability over district residency mandates. While the exact salary loss was not reported, high school principals in this region typically earn six-figure salaries, representing a significant personal financial shift for the Burnside household.
What happens next is centered on the professional future of the former principal and the career path of the student. Hayes has already graduated from a different high school as of May and is currently working toward his certification as an aviation mechanic. Burnside continues to seek employment in education outside the immediate area where he served for over three decades. No further legal or board actions regarding the district's residency policies have been scheduled as a result of this specific case.