Demonstrators Protest Teacher’s Termination at Homecoming Game

ATWOOD (September 26) — It was just before the buzzer rang indicating halftime for the West Carroll War Eagles and the Greenfield Yellowjackets when the home stands began to roar — and not because of the game. Students, parents and community members alike rushed out of their seats, some running up to the top of the bleachers and others running to crowd the ticket booth. They were all running closer to Bernard Lykes, a recently-terminated educator from the West Carroll Special School District, who made a brief appearance at the game.

Two weeks ago, Lykes, an educational assistant at West Carroll Junior/Senior High School, was arrested on two charges: assault of a 15-year-old student and coercion or persuasion of a witness. Lykes spent 30 years working in the West Carroll Special School District as both a coach and a teacher, and his arrest blindsided his former students.

The protesters all shared a common feeling. They held posters with various messages from, “The school is best with Coach Lykes,” to, “The director works for us and has failed us.”

Trish Mitchell, a parent and a former student of Lykes’, organized the protest through a Facebook group titled “We Stand With Coach Lykes” following Lykes’ arrest and subsequent firing from the school district. The group has amassed 230 followers since September 18. Mitchell also started a petition to grant Lykes the opportunity to be rehired or to willingly resign. As of September 29, the petition has 498 signatures out of a goal of 500 signatures.

Throughout the first half of the football game, the protesters organized under a pavilion to the side of the bleachers, sitting with their posters until the time was right. Lykes’ brief arrival at the game was a surprise to the protesters. Had he not attended, they planned to stream the protest on Facebook live.

“Our biggest frustration is that, in the 30 years that he [Lykes] has been in the school district, it’s not like him at all to do anything like this,” said Mitchell. “If anything, he’s pushed us all around in a good way…It’s really easy to manipulate that story.”

Another supporter said, “I support my coach. I had him in elementary school, and then my kids had him. We know him. We know his character, and we know that he would never put his hands on anyone…He’s very supportive of his students, unlike the leadership that we have in this school.”

Although Mitchell organized the protest in response to Lykes’ termination, protesters said his termination was just one of the many issues they had with the school district.

“Multiple parents…have had many issues. I think this stems from that,” Mitchell said. “The issue with Coach Lykes not being part of the school is a lot bigger than just him. Many teachers are being pushed out — the good ones, the ones that have been here for decades.”

The protest, while primarily meant to show Lykes that the community was behind him, was a way for parents to speak on behalf of the students.

“I feel like it’s my job as a parent to be able to have a voice for someone else who can’t,” Mitchell said.

West Carroll Special School District Superintendent Preston Caldwell declined to comment on the protest.