Gary Comer students take to hallways after popular principal is let go

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Students at Gary Comer College Prep High School sat in the hallways and stairwells of their school Thursday in protest of their popular principal being let go by the Noble Network of Charter Schools. | Provided photo

After they learned their principal wasn’t invited back for the next school year, students at Gary Comer College Prep High School took to the hallways Thursday afternoon, blocking stairwells and making signs in support of their popular leader.

The students at the Noble Network of Charter schools campus in Greater Grand Crossing learned Thursday that principal Nikki Grier was not invited back by Noble leadership for the next school year, according to Noble spokeswoman Constance Brewer.

Before school let out about 3:30 p.m., some of the school’s students refused to return to classrooms, according to a Comer staffer; they filled the hallways and sat in some of the stairwells.

Brewer would not say why Grier was being let go other from the school with CPS’ second-highest rating other than to say: “We felt that a leadership transition was needed.”

“We really do admire Nikki’s dedication to the students,” she said, adding that the protests were a “reflection of her dedication. She’s really beloved by our community.”

Grier, in her second full year as principal, is the campus’ first African-American leader since it opened in 2008. She will finish the year and help the new principal — currently the principal at the Comer Middle School — transition in, Brewer said.

Grier did not return phone and email messages seeking comment.

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Students at Gary Comer College Prep High School sat in the hallways and stairwells of their school Thursday in protest of their popular principal being let go by the Noble Network of Charter Schools. | Provided photo

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