Rob Burnside, a school principal with 31 years in education, lost his job at Lakota East High School in Ohio after he refused to abandon a homeless teenage student and later became the boy’s legal guardian.
The student, 16-year-old Landerius Hayes, known to those close to him as DeDe, was living in deeply unstable conditions.
He sometimes spent nights in a car with the engine running for warmth, as the mobile home where his father stayed was too cold to sleep in.
DeDe’s mum relocates outside school district
He was barely eating and simply trying to hold himself together long enough to get through the school day.
The situation took a sharper turn when DeDe’s mother relocated outside the school district, leaving him without a qualifying address.
Under the rules, he was required to withdraw from Lakota East.
Burnside had every administrative reason to process the paperwork and let it go. He chose not to. Burnside allows DeDe to attend classes When he told his wife Angel about DeDe’s circumstances, her response was immediate. “Well, he can come stay with us, if he needs to,” she said.
The couple welcomed him into their home and began the process of becoming his legal guardians.
During that period, Burnside continued to allow DeDe to attend classes even though he was technically unenrolled.
Burnside steps down after 30 years as principal
The district told Burnside he could either resign or face formal termination. After three decades of service, he stepped down.
DeDe, aware of the weight of what was happening, reportedly offered to leave the Burnside home and return to his mother so that his principal would not have to sacrifice his career. Burnside would not hear of it.
“DeDe, you’re part of this family. We’re not gonna turn our back on you,” Burnside told him.
When did DeDe graduate from high school?
In May 2026, DeDe walked across the graduation stage at Lakota East High School. In the stands sat Rob and Angel Burnside, the two people he now refers to as “Pops” and “Ma.”
He is currently working towards a career as an aviation mechanic.
Burnside, reflecting on everything the decision cost him, says not a moment of it troubles him.
“What value can we put on the life of a young person?” he said.
