An Ohio Principal Allowed a Homeless Student to Stay in School, and It Cost Him His Job. He Has No Regrets.

Updated on: August 24, 2026 / 12:40 PM EDT / CBS News

An Ohio Principal Allowed a Homeless Student to Stay in School, and It Cost Him His Job. He Has No Regrets.

TL;DR

  • Principal Rob Burnside allowed a homeless student, Landerius Hayes, to remain enrolled at Lakota East High School.
  • The decision was made after Hayes' mother moved out of the school district, making him ineligible to attend.
  • Burnside and his wife, Angel, subsequently adopted Hayes after he was unable to live with his parents.
  • Burnside was given the option to resign or be terminated, ultimately choosing to step down.
  • Hayes has since graduated from a different high school and is pursuing a career as an aviation mechanic.