Full Breakdown
Ohio Principal Loses Job After Adopting Homeless Student
8/25/2026, 1:24:04 AM
Core Event: Adoption and Termination
Rob Burnside, principal of Lakota East High School in a Cincinnati suburb, took legal guardianship of 16-year-old student Landerius “DeDe” Hayes after the boy’s mother moved out of the district and the school district refused to allow him to remain enrolled. Burnside offered the Hayes family a place to stay, and the Burnsides eventually became Hayes’s legal guardians, enabling the student to return to Lakota East. Shortly thereafter, the district placed Burnside on administrative leave and presented him with an ultimatum: step down or face termination. Burnside chose to resign, citing family considerations, and reports indicate he has been unable to secure another principal position in the area.
Background & Context
Hayes had been experiencing homelessness, sleeping in a car because his father’s mobile home was too cold and his mother’s residence was deemed unsafe. Burnside’s prior experience included informal efforts to connect with students, such as wearing distinctive clothing on Fridays, but the Hayes case marked a shift from engagement to direct intervention.
Official Statements & Responses
Burnside described the district’s position as a barrier to his ability to lead effectively, noting that administrators told him he could not return to the building. The district’s response, as recounted by Burnside, emphasized the lack of a legal guardian address as the reason for denying Hayes continued enrollment. Burnside’s wife, Angel, initially offered the home, and the family later formalized guardianship, allowing Hayes to resume his education.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He just dropped everything, smiled at me, and he was like, 'What's up, DeDe?'” — Landerius Hayes
- “He can't be here. He doesn't have a parent who has an address. The parent resides elsewhere. He needs to go where the parent is,” — Rob Burnside
- “We said, you know, 'God, if this is your will for this young man to be in our home,' you know, 'make it clear,'” — Rob Burnside
- “I remember my exact words, 'DeDe, you're part of this family,' you know, 'we're not gonna turn our back on you,' and, you know, and we hugged,” — Rob Burnside
