Monday, February 29, 2016
The last weekend of February was filled with scandal in Decatur as word of Susan Riley’s termination at Decatur High School by City Schools of Decatur Superintendent David Dude spread like wildfire across social media.
The long time media center clerk was beloved by most of the school population and that love caused two alumni from the class of ’14, Sarah Norman and Sara Stubbs, to do something about the firing, which was done under suspicious circumstances. The pair gathered their resources and over two days organized a rally for Susan across from the high school. Monday morning before classes started parents, students, community leaders and others gathered in the lawn across from the school holding signs, cheering, giving testimonials and venting their frustrations at losing one of the school’s biggest hearts. Wearing black, teachers and faculty at the school stood at the curb listening and cheering from across the street as well.
As Monday approached the firestorm had already caused Dr. David Dude to recall the termination, opting to put Riley on administrative leave with pay while the school board figured out what to do. There will be an independent inquiry by to figure out where to go from here.
Sarah Norman (left) and Sara Stubbs, the organizers of the Rally for Riley, write messages to Susan Riley on a sign as they set up for the event across from Decatur High School on Monday morning.
Mary Rigger (left) and Lynne Norman crowd around a table to write Susan Riley letters during the Rally for Riley across from Decatur High School on Monday morning.
Isaiah Lewis (left) and his father Jeremy hold signs in support of Susan Riley as they stand across from Decatur High School during the Rally for Riley on Monday morning.
Photo: Jonathan Phillips
Sarah Norman (left) and Sara Stubbs, the organizers of the Rally for Riley, speak to a few hundred people gathered during the Rally for Riley across from Decatur High School on Monday morning.
Sara Stubbs (right), one of the organizers of the Rally for Riley, leads the crowd gathered across from Decatur High School in support of Susan Riley in chants and cheers on Monday morning.
Teachers and faculty at Decatur High School stand in front of the school listening to an outpouring of support for Susan Riley during the Rally for Riley on Monday morning.
Bailey Pendergrast (center) hands out signs to people in the crowd gathered across from Decatur High School during the Rally for Riley on Monday morning.
Sara Stubbs (right), one of the organizers of the Rally for Riley, speaks to the crowd gathered across from Decatur High School in support of Susan Riley on Monday morning.
Roberta Moore (right) and other Decatur High School students hold onto signs in support of Susan Riley during the Rally for Riley across from the school on Monday morning.
Caroline Grimes (center) holds a sign in support of Susan Riley during the Rally for Riley across from Decatur High School on Monday morning.
Susan Riley’s nephew Kirk Riley (left), her son Drew Riley and close family friends Hamilton Letts and Chris Waterbury listen as people speak during the Rally for Riley across from Decatur High School on Monday morning.
City Schools of Decatur Superintendent Dr. David Dude (center) listens to people speak during the Rally for Riley across from Decatur High School on Monday morning. Dude is reconsidering his decision to terminate Susan Riley, a popular media clerk at Decatur High School.
Braylen Dixon (left) and Abigail Gasparotti hold signs while they listen to speakers talk in support of Susan Riley during the Rally for Riley across from Decatur High School on Monday morning.
Leonard Thibadeau (center) holds a sign above his head during the Rally for Riley across from Decatur High School on Monday morning.
A few hundred Susan Riley supporters gather across from Decatur High School during the Rally for Riley on Monday morning.
Angela Wade (right), a retired teacher, speaks during the Rally for Riley across from Decatur High School on Monday morning.
Matthew Tatum (left) and Iris Quam write messages for Susan Riley on a sign during the Rally for Riley across from Decatur High School on Monday morning.
Supporters of Susan Riley crowd around a table to write her letters during the Rally for Riley across from Decatur High School on Monday morning.
Supporters of Susan Riley write notes on a sign during the Rally for Riley across from Decatur High School on Monday morning.