Durham School of the Arts principal takes leave after criticizing student walkout
The principal of the Durham School of the Arts announced Wednesday she is taking a leave of absence hours after criticizing students who walked out of classes last week over a classmate’s death by suicide.
In an email to parents, Principal Jackie Tobias said she was absent from the school last week due to a personal matter that “continues to persist,” prompting her leave. She said the Durham Public Schools administration will appoint an interim principal during her absence.
Tobias also announced that she will retire this summer after 37 years in public education. She was hired as principal of the school in 2021 after serving at the City of Medicine Academy in Durham.
“Serving as principal of DSA is an incredible honor,” Tobias wrote. “I know that the DSA community will continue to do amazing things, and I have full confidence in the strength of our students and staff while I am away.”
Tobias’ announcement comes weeks after Gabriela “Gaby” Aparicio Ortega, a 13-year-old student, took her own life at the end of February and days after students and Durham residents held memorials for the girl. Bullying was a suspected factor in Gabriela’s death, and several people who knew her called attention to the matter on social media.
On Friday morning, dozens of DSA students participated in a walk-out to remember the eighth-grader and raise concerns about mental health and bullying. Gabriela’s family was present at the rally.
‘I’m very disappointed’
Before her announcement, Tobias spent 10 minutes on the school’s intercom Wednesday morning to criticize students who participated in the demonstration, according to a recording obtained by The N&O. In the audio, Tobias said she wanted to clarify misconceptions about the school’s handling of bullying incidents and that the walk-out was “disrespectful” to Gabriela.
“I find it very insensitive, disappointing, and that this really does not honor our student that died,” Tobias said. “If you think a bunch of kids going outside yelling and screaming and talking about what this means to them or doesn’t mean to them or for us to stop it; if you think that makes a difference with no action, then I am so sorry, and I’m very disappointed.”
Tobias also said she had “no report” about Gabriela being bullied at the school.
“I am going to call it straight. No one came to me and reported that,” Tobias said and added that as an immigrant who struggled in school, she would not have allowed students to be bullied had she known about it.
“No one knows in the end, why a person committed suicide,” she said. “Only the person who committed suicide knows this and it is very sad.”
“It is a very sensitive subject and if you want to do something about it, come and talk to me,” Tobias said. “No one has sat with me and asked me, ‘what can we do?’”
Durham Public Schools has not confirmed if Gabriela’s parents raised concerns about bullying before her death, saying they would not share details out of respect to her family.
Ethel Vandergriff, the education department manager of the nonprofit group El Centro Hispano, said many Latino families in Durham find it challenging to navigate the school system due to language barriers and misunderstandings.
In an interview with The N&O, Vandergriff said some families have come to the organization with concerns about their children being bullied regardless of the school’s action against it. El Centro Hispano helps translate services for families and educates them about who they can get help for their children. Still, stronger relationships between the community and the school system are needed, Vandergriff said.
“It starts with communication and I think that’s why the language barrier makes it an issue for families,” Vandergriff said. “DPS has plans to start new programs that will incorporate or integrate families more and more but I also know that this is something that is not going to be tomorrow.”
Both Tobias and Superintendent Anthony Lewis contacted Gabriela’s family to give their condolences, according to a statement from DPS.
At a school board meeting last week, Lewis began the meeting by honoring Gabriela and another student who died this school year. The following statement was read during the meeting:
Durham Public Schools has experienced tremendous loss with the deaths of two scholars over the past two weeks. We are deeply saddened and extend our sincerest condolences to the family, friends, and all those who have been affected by the loss of these two young souls. I know that they are already sorely missed, and our hearts go out to all who are grieving in our community.
We respect the privacy of our scholars and their families during this difficult time. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding these tragic losses, we want our community to know that the safety, wellbeing, and protection of our students is the highest priority for us. We also recognize and understand how critically important it is for our scholars to know that a trusted adult is available when they may need one. We encourage our scholars to seek support from a safe adult for any reason they may deem necessary. We most assuredly want to know what may be bothering them and how we can assist them. Our Student Support Services professionals stand ready and able to offer confidential assistance with a listening and caring ear.
With any situation like this, DPS Student Support Services uses investigative protocol to gather information about the student that may be helpful in determining any actions that need to be taken or providing information that must be shared with administration and authorities. In addition to the Student Support Services professionals who provide counseling and social work services to students Durham Public Schools, the district partners with seven of the county’s mental health resource organizations to provide assistance to students who need services. Co-located mental health services is a collaboration of community agencies and school-based mental health support. Community mental health providers contract with DPS to provide services to students in assigned schools.
This story was originally published March 20, 2025 at 8:10 AM.