When Rob Burnside discovered that one of his students had nowhere safe to live, the Ohio high school principal faced a choice that would eventually cost him the career he had spent 31 years building. He could follow the district’s instructions, or step in and give the teenager the stability he believed he desperately needed.
Burnside chose the student. Years later, after watching that teenager graduate from high school, the former principal says he has no regrets.
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Ohio Principal Rob Burnside’s Decision to Help Homeless Student Landerius “DeDe” Hayes
Rob Burnside had been working in education for 31 years and had served as principal of Lakota East High School in Liberty Township, Ohio, since 2021. He was known for connecting with students, even wearing unusual clothes on Fridays to encourage teenagers to start conversations.
One of those students was Landerius “DeDe” Hayes.
Hayes remembered their first interaction as a simple moment in the hallway. In an interview with CBS News, he recalled saying:
“First time I met him is when I seen him in the hallway and I was like, ‘What’s up, Mr. Burnside?’”
Burnside’s response stuck with him.
“He just dropped everything, smiled at me, and he was like, ‘What’s up, DeDe?’”
Neither of them knew then that their relationship would eventually change both of their lives.
During Hayes’ junior year, Burnside learned that the teenager was dealing with severe instability at home. Hayes said he could not safely live with his mother, while his father was dealing with his own problems. At times, Hayes slept in a car, struggling to find somewhere warm and safe.
“My mom, I couldn’t live with her because it wasn’t really safe to live with her,”
Hayes said.
“And my dad, he had some issues going on.”
He also recalled sleeping in a car with the heat running because his father’s mobile home was too cold.
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A Change of Address Put the Lakota East Student’s Education in Jeopardy
The situation became even more complicated when Hayes’ mother moved outside the Lakota school district.
The district informed the school that Hayes would have to withdraw because he no longer had an eligible address within the district. Rather than simply process the withdrawal, Burnside started asking questions.
According to records obtained by the Cincinnati Enquirer, the district later investigated Burnside for allowing Hayes, who was no longer officially enrolled, to remain at school and receive services including meals.
Burnside later recalled the district’s position:
“He can’t be here. He doesn’t have a parent who has an address. The parent resides elsewhere. He needs to go where the parent is.”
But Hayes did not have a stable place to go.
Burnside discussed the situation with his wife, Angel. The couple had already adopted two children and understood what it meant to expand their family.
Angel’s response was immediate.
“The first words out of her mouth were, ‘Well, he can come stay with us, if he needs to,’”
Burnside recalled.
After speaking with Hayes’ mother, the Burnsides offered the teenager a home. Burnside knew how unusual the offer sounded.
“That’s a pretty big bomb to drop on a kid: ‘Hey, come live with your principal.’”
Hayes accepted.
| Time | What happened |
| 2021 | Rob Burnside became principal of Lakota East High School |
| Junior year | Burnside learned Hayes was experiencing housing instability |
| November 2024 | Burnside was placed on paid administrative leave |
| November 22, 2024 | Lakota Board of Education accepted Burnside’s resignation |
| February 2025 | Legal custody and guardianship arrangement became permanent, according to subsequent reporting |
| May 2026 | Hayes graduated from another high school |
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Why Rob Burnside Lost His Job After Letting DeDe Hayes Stay in School
Giving Hayes a home solved one major problem, but another remained: he was still officially out of the district.
Burnside nevertheless allowed him to continue attending Lakota East High School.
That decision put Burnside’s own job at risk.
In November 2024, he was placed on paid administrative leave while the district investigated what it publicly described as a “concern.” Records later showed the investigation involved allegations including insubordination, failure to follow directives concerning Hayes’ enrollment and attendance, and concerns about potential liability because the student was no longer enrolled.
The district even questioned what could happen if Hayes were injured on school property.
Burnside ultimately resigned rather than continue through the termination process. The Lakota Board of Education accepted his resignation during an emergency meeting on November 22, 2024. His resignation letter said he was leaving for personal reasons and to avoid further division within the school community.
Burnside later admitted his communication with the district could have been better.
“I own the fact that my communication could have been better. Maybe I didn’t ask the right questions,”
he said.
But he also made clear what motivated him.
“But I had nothing to gain out of this other than this is a kid that I care about, our school cares about, and we want to help.”
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Homeless Student Offered to Leave to Save His Principal’s Career
Hayes understood that Burnside’s decision was threatening his career.
At one point, the teenager reportedly offered to return to his mother rather than stay with the Burnsides if it could save Burnside’s job.
Burnside refused.
“No. You’re gonna stay with me.”
He then reassured Hayes:
“DeDe, you’re part of this family. We’re not gonna turn our back on you.”
Burnside’s public education career was effectively over, but his relationship with Hayes continued.
After leaving Lakota East, Burnside and Angel continued working to provide Hayes with a stable home. With Hayes’ mother’s involvement, the couple pursued a legal custody and guardianship arrangement that had become permanent by February 2025, according to subsequent reporting.
Some reports and headlines described the development as an adoption. However, the more detailed available reporting describes the Burnsides as becoming Hayes’ legal guardians, which is the more precise description.
Hayes later attended another high school. In May 2026, he graduated with Burnside and Angel watching from the stands.
The teenager who once slept in a cold car now calls Burnside “Pops.” He is working as a car mechanic while pursuing a future career in aviation.
Reflecting on how dramatically his life changed, Hayes said:
“At first, I was in a cold car, barely eating, barely in a school, just trying to be a good person. And now, it’s just, I’m eating now. I’m in the house, being a kid.”
Rob Burnside Says He Has No Regrets About Losing His Career
Burnside has not returned to his former role as a principal and moved into the private sector after leaving education.
Still, when CBS News asked whether he regretted his decision, his answer was clear.
“Because what value can we put on the life of a young person?”
Burnside also reflected on the difficult question educators may face when a student is in serious need.
“I think we all wonder, when push comes to shove, [if] we’ll put it all on the line for our students. I’m really envious of the people who never have to, but I’m thankful that I know how I answer that question.”
The story also raises broader questions about the rights of students experiencing homelessness. The federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act provides educational protections for children and young people without stable housing. Ohio’s Department of Education and Workforce states that the law is intended to ensure equal access to public education and requires districts to designate homeless-education liaisons to assist with identification, eligibility, enrollment and services.
Ohio guidance also states that students experiencing homelessness may have rights related to enrollment and transportation even when their living circumstances cross district boundaries.
However, available reporting does not establish precisely why Hayes’ situation was handled as it was or whether a specific McKinney-Vento procedure was followed or missed. It would therefore be inaccurate to claim that Lakota definitively violated federal homelessness protections.
What is established is simpler and more personal.
A teenager experiencing housing instability was withdrawn from school after his mother’s address changed. His principal allowed him to keep attending, gave him a home, faced an investigation, and eventually lost the career he had spent decades building.
In the end, Hayes graduated from high school with a stable home, a family supporting him, and plans for his future.
Burnside was there to watch him receive his diploma.
And despite everything he lost professionally, the former Ohio principal says he already knows what he would do if the same choice ever came again.
Disclaimer: This article is based on thorough research and verified reporting from CBS News, FOX19/Cincinnati Enquirer reporting, Journal-News records coverage, and official information from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce regarding students experiencing homelessness and homeless education liaisons. Personnel and student privacy restrictions mean some details surrounding the individual case remain unavailable publicly, and this article does not claim that the Lakota school district definitively violated federal homelessness protections.
Sources
- CBS News — “An Ohio principal allowed a homeless student to stay in school, and it cost him his job. He has no regrets.” (August 24, 2026)
- Cincinnati Enquirer — “Lakota principal ends career over helping homeless student, adopts him” (July 29, 2026)
- Lakota Schools / Journal-News — records on Burnside investigation and resignation (November 2024 coverage)
- Ohio Department of Education and Workforce — Students Experiencing Homelessness (official McKinney-Vento guidance)
- Ohio Department of Education and Workforce — Homeless Education Liaisons (official liaison framework)
Featured Image Credit: Max Fischer on Pexels
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