Community reacts to assistant principal’s controversial comments

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — A local story about a top administrator at Soddy Daisy High school has gained national attention since the controversial video was posted Wednesday.

Students, parents, teachers, and other members of the Soddy Daisy community have now rallied behind Assistant Principal Jared Hensley, after his comments about female students in a morning newscast update.

The Hamilton County Department of Education has placed Hensley under administrative leave pending an investigation into Hensley’s comments blaming girls for Soddy Daisy’s dress code.

However, many students want their beloved assistant principal to keep his job.

Hensley is seen in the video talking about the school’s dress code policy prohibiting gym shorts for both boys and girls. He says, “Just don’t wear them. And if you really want someone to blame, blame the girls, because they pretty much ruin everything.”

That phrase has sent shock waves not just across the Tennessee Valley but across the nation. National news outlets, even musical legend Cher, has shared the story of Soddy Daisy’s assistant principal Jared Hensley.

Tennessee high school AD put on leave after saying girls ‘pretty much ruin everything’ – USA TODAY Women Really Ruined Everything Since Adam & Eve?
I Dont remember Women Being Responsible for WW1&2,Priests Abusing??,Inquisition,Slavery, Holocaust,Napalm? https://t.co/DJBxgM1SH1

— Cher (@cher) September 27, 2018

But the students at Soddy Daisy think it’s been taken out of context.

“I really didn’t think anything about it. It didn’t even cross my mind just because I know who he is and his character,” Junior Vice President Lily Caldwell said. “He’s always been sarcastic and funny, and always just make comments at you in the hallway to make your day better.”

“He’s trying to leave his administrative side out and talk to us like a normal person would and to relate to us and try to get us to understand what he’s talking about,” Junior Class President Annabelle Sapp said. “So I don’t think he was trying to personally attack anyone. I think he was just trying to get his point across.”

Senior Class Vice President Paige Dunny said she was a member of Hensley’s gym class a few years ago. She remembers being treated fairly and as any other student.

They’re not excusing his statement, though.

“I think we can all agree that his wording was not correct, and that it could have been thought out a lot better,” Senior Class President Tori Brown said. “I think that we’re all here just to support him and say that we don’t think it was severe enough for him to be fired.”

Soddy Daisy’s school board member Rhonda Thurman said the story has been blown out of proportion.

“It was a joke,” Thurman said. “I know Jared. I know his sense of humor. The kids all know Jared. That’s just the way he talks to the kids. And it was a joke, and all the kids know it was a joke.”

This is OUR Vice Principal, Jared Hensley this afternoon during the chaos of the downpour and severe weather making sure everyone gets home safely. You cannot tell me that this man doesn’t care for the students of Soddy Daisy High School. #teamhensley pic.twitter.com/YCMRj4RjUb

— Gavin Chambers (@gav_chambers) September 26, 2018

“We all agree that there should be repercussions for the statement,” Brown said. “We just don’t agree that those repercussions should be firing.”

“I think he should go back to being our administrator like he was before because Soddy Daisy needs him as our assistant principal. We will not be the same without him,” Sapp said.

Soddy Daisy Principal Steve Henry released a statement, as well. He says Hensley’s comments are not representative of the school and they do not condone his comments. Henry says he apologizes for playing the video during school hours.

Hamilton County Department of Education officials say they are currently interviewing people as a part of the investigation. There is no timeline yet on when a final verdict will be made.