District places Camas High principal on administrative leave after Kobe post

Camas School District officials say they have placed Camas High School Principal Liza Sejkora on administrative leave following community outcry over Sejkora’s controversial comments regarding the death of basketball superstar Kobe Bryant.

The announcement came one day after news broke that Sejkora had posted a comment likening Bryant’s death to “karma catching up with a rapist” on her personal Facebook page hours after Bryant’s Jan. 26 death in a helicopter crash that also claimed the lives of Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna “Gigi” Bryant, two other young girls and five other adults.

CSD Superintendent Jeff Snell wrote to Camas High families Tuesday night and said Sejkora, who has led the high school since 2017, had received threats for her Jan. 26 Facebook post.

“Our priority is always the safety of our students and staff,” Snell wrote in his letter to families Tuesday night. “In light of threats to (Sejkora) and concern from our community, (Sejkora) has been placed on administrative leave today pending the outcome of our investigation.”

Snell said he is taking over leadership responsibilities at Camas High School during Sejkora’s leave.

Snell said Wednesday morning that district officials had met with Camas police to review online threats made against Sejkora, and wrote to families to tell them Camas police and additional staff would remain on the Camas High campus on Wednesday.

“We consider any type of threat seriously and respond accordingly. Student and staff safety is our number one priority,” Snell said.

“We are aware of and looking into rumors and threats at Camas High School, which are circulating electronically,” Snell added later. “We have investigated each concern with Camas Police, and have not found any credible evidence.”

He said there is “increased police presence on campus” and that district officials will continue to update Camas High families.

This is an ongoing story. See the Post-Record online for updates and read this week’s Post-Record’s print issue for more details.

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