Braden River High School students protest administrator move

Braden River High School students are taking to social media to fight the relocation of one of their assistant principals.

The Manatee County School District announced Monday that Assistant Principal Donald French would be relocated to Bayshore High School, and it’s being met with resistance. French has been at Braden River since it opened 11 years ago.

Since Monday, students have taken to social media to protest the district’s actions. 

Using #FightforFrench, students are posting about how important the assistant principal is to Braden River High.

Emma Slotabec tweeted: “Mr. French is the heart of BR, & a huge reason why I’m one of the few lucky ppl who truly loved their high school experience.”

Other students encouraged their classmates to email Superintendent Diana Greene to express their unhappiness with moving French. 

“When you think ‘Braden River’ you think immediately of Mr. French,” said Kyle Thoma in a note that he tweeted. “Mr. French is family to us.”

The district moves administration around to positions where they can best benefit the district as a whole, said spokesman Mike Barber, especially when the district has many young administrators and needs other administrators alongside them with district experience. 

“We’re glad he’s had that kind of impact at Braden River, it’s great they don’t want to see him go,” Barber said. “For him to go to Bayshore is an opportunity for him to have an impact on other students as well.”

French’s replacement at Braden River has not yet been selected.