(Shenandoah) — Shenandoah High School students exercised their first amendment right in support of a recently resigned teacher Monday morning.
Dozens of high school students lined the sidewalk outside of the school building in support of Language Arts Teacher Zach Dotzler. While declining to discuss specifics into an incident with a student-made slideshow in Dotzler’s class Thursday due to it being a personnel matter, Shenandoah School Superintendent Dr. Kerri Nelson confirmed to KMA News that Dotzler submitted his resignation late last week. Junior Michael Gearhart was among those peacefully protesting Monday, who had interacted with Dotzler through a communications class along with speech.
“Dotzler was more than a teacher to a lot of us,” said Gearhart. “He pushed me specifically outside of my comfort zone with speech and he made me feel welcomed here when I first moved here. So, he’s an amazing teacher and we want him back.”
Sophomore Simon Hennings had Dotzler for his homeroom period and is also involved in speech. Hennings says they feel Dotzler received an “unfair” judgement.
“Other teachers knew the same stuff that he did and they didn’t get any punishment,” said Hennings. “So, we’re here just trying to get Dotzler back or getting a fair judgement.”
Gearhart added he was pleased to see the number of students joining the protest.
“I didn’t expect a lot of people to come out, but I’m proud of how this has gone,” said Gearhart. “I’m glad a lot of people have come out so that the school knows that we want Dotzler back or we want something done right.”
Like any personnel matter, Nelson says that Dotzler’s resignation will go before the Shenandoah School Board for official acceptance. KMA News has also contacted the Shenandoah Police Department for further information regarding Thursday’s incident and subsequent arrests.