ORANGE, Texas — A West Orange-Stark Middle School teacher is out of a job after he says he was forced to resign after breaking up a fight between two students.
Health teacher John Leday says the school's administration let him go not for what he did, but for what he didn't do.
Two students started arguing and Leday says he was forced to intervene. He is devastated that he's been left without a job, with no warning or write up, all because he says he got the students to settle their differences with a handshake, instead of bringing them to the principal.
"He walked me and this other student to the principal's office and he made us talk it out like two mature people," said Ervin Marshall, an 8th grade student at the school. Marshall was one of the students involved in the fight.
Marshall is accepting the consequences for getting into a fight with another student. He's been suspended since the fight Monday.
"Then afterwards, 4th period, he reported it to Mr. Allison and I guess it escalated from there," Marshall said.
Leday has worked as the health teacher and coach at West Orange-Stark Middle School since August. He says he dealt with the dispute the best way he knew how.
"As I was taking them to the office, I was just talking to them, because I'm a coach. So I'm thinking just talking to them would probably work better than what the principal is going to do, just sending them to alternative. They shook hands, then we went back into the classroom," Leday said.
The problems for Leday, were just beginning.
"The problem they had with me was I didn't follow their protocol, saying I didn't send them to the front office," he said.
Leday says Superintendent Dr. Rickie Harris gave him two options, resign immediately or enter his name on the termination list putting future employment opportunities in jeopardy.
"He says he can't trust me to take care of the kids when every kid there knows who they come talk to when they have a problem," said Leday.
Leday resigned on Tuesday, but is still hoping the district will reconsider its decision.
"I just feel like they made the wrong decision," he said.
Marshall says he and many other students will miss having a teacher who's made a difference in their lives.
"He was never a hated teacher. He wasn't just teaching us about health he was giving us actual life tips," Marshall said.
Leday tells 12News he would be glad to return to the school for his students, if asked.
12News reached out to West Orange-Cove CISD about Leday's situation. They did not return our request for comment.