Louisiana principal apologizes, requests leave after punishing student for dancing at party; her mom says "too little, too late"

A Louisiana public school principal has apologized and requested leave for punishing a student and questioning her religious beliefs after he saw a video of her dancing at an off-campus party. But the mother of the student has called the principal's move to reinstate her daughter's school privileges "too little, too late."

Kaylee Timonet, the 17-year-old student government president and scholarship candidate, was videotaped dancing at an off-campus party following Walker High School's Sept. 30 Homecoming festivities. A hired DJ took the video and posted it on social media to promote his business, CBS affiliate WAFB reported. Three days later, Jason St. Pierre, principal of the public high school near the state capital of Baton Rouge, told the student she would be removed from her position with the student government association and that he would no longer recommend her for college scholarships.

At a meeting in his office with the assistant principal, St. Pierre told the student she wasn't "living in the Lord's way," her mother said, according to The Advocate. He printed out Bible verses with highlighted sections and "questioned who her friends were and if they followed the Lord," the news outlet reported.

BREAKING: Principal of Walker High School requests to take leave of absence: https://t.co/tFwgCjqtjQ pic.twitter.com/iyMN2hRQ9B

— WAFB (@WAFB) October 9, 2023

In a statement published Sunday on the Livingston Parish Public Schools district Facebook page, St. Pierre reversed course. Citing the significant public attention the episode had received and more time to consider his decision, the principal apologized to the student's family and undid his previous disciplinary plans. He also addressed his invocation of religion.

"Finally, during my conversation with (the student) regarding the dance party, the subject of religious beliefs was broached by (the student) and myself," St. Pierre wrote. "While that conversation was meant with the best intentions, I do understand it is not my responsibility to determine what students' or others' religious beliefs may be – that should be the responsibility of the individual."

Timonet and her mother said St. Pierre brought up religion, not her. The mother and daughter have also said the deadline for her scholarship application was on Oct. 3, and questioned whether St. Pierre could have reinstated his scholarship endorsement sooner, WAFB reported.

Timonet's mom Rachel told WAFB the apology was "too little, too late."

"I even told him on the phone conversation when he made it to us at noon today asking us to come into the office and he mentioned reinstating the scholarship, I let him know that the scholarship deadline was done, and the damage that he's done to her is done. I also told him I gave them the opportunity when I came in there at 7 o' clock the next morning, to try and rectify the situation at that point. Now, with somebody holding his hand forcing him to do something, an apology being enforced, it's too late," Rachel Timonet told the station.

In a statement Monday, district officials said St. Pierre had requested to take leave for the remainder of the school year.

"Walker High School Principal Jason St. Pierre has requested to take leave for the remainder of the 2023-2024 school year," said Livingston Parish Public Schools Superintendent Joe Murphy. "The district office is awaiting his paperwork to process his request."

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• Louisiana