Philadelphia HS principal replaced after denying diplomas

May 2024 · 3 minute read

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The principal of a Philadelphia high school has been replaced — at least temporarily — after she went viral for denying at least two students their diplomas because of their on-stage celebration at graduation.

​Lisa Mesi, principal of the Philadelphia High School for Girls, has been replaced by Janis Butler as a substitute leader at the historic magnet school, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

​School District Associate Superintendent Tomás Hanna informed the community in a letter about the “temporary change in leadership” at the school.

​“Dr. Butler is excited to support the school community to help set the stage for a successful 2023-2024 school year,” Hanna wrote, according to the news outlet.

The move comes after the controversial June 9 graduation, which made national headlines when Mesi was seen waving at least two students off as they stepped up to receive their diplomas.

One of them, Hafsah Abdur-Rahman, was captured doing the griddy dance with a bouquet in hand — drawing a chuckle from an audience member during the lighthearted moment.

Lisa Mesi, the principal of the Philadelphia High School for Girls, has been replaced after she was seen in viral video denying diplomas to two students whose on-stage actions elicited celebratory reactions from the crowd. Philadelphia School District

​The other grad, Saleemah Burch, drew some clapping when she flipped her hair and made a gesture as she strode up the Kimmel Center stage, the Inquirer reported.

Leaders at the institution, ​which opened in 1848 as one of the first public high schools for girls in the US, expect graduates to dress in all white and walk across the stage with composure, the paper reported.

Prior to the ceremony, Mesi told the families that cheering and clapping was forbidden — and warned the graduates that their diplomas would be withheld if the rules were not adhered to.

But ​both Abdul-Rahman and Burch said they were humiliated by the snub and wondered why they were blamed for audience members’ behavior.

“She stole that moment from me. I will never get that again. I was so embarrassed, I couldn’t even enjoy the rest of the graduation,” Abdur-Rahman said.

Hafsah Abdur-Rahman celebrated with a dance at her graduation. WPVI-TV
Principal Mesi denied her her diploma, waving her off after her quick dance moves. WPVI-TV

“I understood the rules because I was saying ‘shh’ in the video. Do not say nothing because I want my diploma. I knew and understood what we were supposed to do,” she added.

​District officials have said they did not “cond​one the withholding of earned diplomas based on family members cheering for their graduates,” according to the news outlet.

“We apologize to all the families and graduates who were impacted and are further looking into this matter to avoid it happening in the future,” they added.

Luckily, the teen was given her diploma following the conclusion of the ceremony. ABC 6

Meanwhile, Mesi received support from the ​Girls’ High Alumnae Association.

​“She is a compassionate leader and outspoken advocate for our little sisters,” the group said in a statement. “We are fortunate to have her shepherding our alma mater through incredibly difficult years — through city-wide budget cuts, policy changes and a global pandemic that magnified every obstacle the faculty, administration and our dear little sisters have faced.”

The group also criticized the widespread coverage of the incident.

​“At the onset — and previously shared with all students, families, and other attendees — Principal Mesi clearly communicated the guidelines and regulations for the ceremony with an added dose of warmth and humor,” it said, the Inquirer reported.

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