PHOTOS: Washburn Protests to 'Save Pratt'

Washburn High School students, parents, alumni and community members have come out in droves to show their support for Athletic Director Dan Pratt this week.

Donning stickers that read "Support Pratt" and carrying signs asking "Where is your P.R.I.D.E. Ms. Cousins?," hundreds of students participated in a walkout Monday and a sit-in Wednesday. Another demonstration will likely take place Friday as well.

Add your photos of the demonstrations to the gallery by clicking on "Upload Photos and Videos."

News broke last week about the potential firing of Pratt, as the district started an investigation looking into an issue involving the purchase of a scoreboard.

Many Pratt supporters blamed school principal Carol Markham-Cousins for getting the ball rolling for the investigation. Many reports have indicated Pratt and Markham-Cousins disagreed on issues surrounding the scoreboard. Coincidentally, Markham-Cousins was removed as principal Wednesday. She told the Southwest Journal Thursday that she would be reassigned to a different position in the district.

There will likely be more demonstrations until the district concludes its investigation of Pratt, Teri Bentson told Patch Thursday.

Bentson, whose son is a senior at Washburn, believes Pratt will come out on top when the investigation ends.

"Dan Pratt is a wonderful, wonderful athletic director, he's a leader in the community, and he is someone that the students look up to," Bentson said. "I'm just so confident that the [district] will find he's done nothing wrong."

Check out the photo gallery above for photos or videos of the week's events. Add your own photos or videos to the gallery by clicking "Upload Photos and Videos."

Patch would also like you to share your thoughts on the week's events. Add your perspective in the comments section below.

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Related articles:

• Parent: Washburn Protests Giving Students a Look at 'Democracy in Action'
• 'goodbye mrs. cousins': Response to Principal's Ouster at Washburn HS
• SW Journal Reports Principal Carol Markham-Cousins Out at Washburn HS
• Dan Pratt Supporters Begin Online Petition
• Students Talk Washburn HS Walkout on Twitter
• Washburn HS under Code Yellow as Students Protest AD Firing

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