PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The principal at the Philadelphia High School for Girls has been replaced — at least for now — following a diploma controversy at this year’s graduation ceremony.
In a letter to the school community, Associate Superintendent Tomás Hanna said there would be a “temporary change in leadership” at Girls’ High. Effective June 30, Dr. Janis Butler became the school’s “substitute” principal, replacing Lisa Mesi, who had led the magnet school since 2019.
Mesi made headlines last month when she didn’t hand diplomas to two grads whose actions onstage brought responses from the audience. One student danced and another tossed her hair, eliciting crowd reactions that violated the school’s long-held tradition of a quiet and composed walk across the Kimmel Center stage.
The Girls’ High Alumnae Association issued a statement supporting Mesi for maintaining the tradition: “At the onset — and previously shared with all students, families, and other attendees — Principal Mesi clearly communicated the guidelines and regulations for the ceremony with an added dose of warmth and humor. In the future, the Alumnae Association is open and available to work with the school community as they continue to examine and evolve our traditions.”
The School District of Philadelphia, though, said in a statement that it didn’t condone “withholding earned diplomas based on family members cheering.” School Board President Reginald Streater said in a statement, “often institutional traditions were created long before the current diverse beneficiaries of said institutions.”
Butler most recently served as the interim assistant superintendent for Learning Network 3 and interim principal at Edison High School. Mesi didn’t respond to a request for comment.