Oregon teacher put on leave due to involvement in walkout

A teacher at a public school in Portland, Ore. was reportedly put on leave due to his participation in a student walkout.

A district spokesman confirmed to the Oregonian that Chris Riser, a teacher at Ockley Green Middle School in Portland, was put on leave due to his involvement in a walkout on Feb. 9.

“Our review concludes that students were subjected to the risk of potentially severe harm because of unauthorized actions that were not in keeping with our obligation to ensure students’ safety at all times,” a message sent to families of students at the school said.

{mosads}The February walkout included about 100 students, according to the Oregonian.

It was carried out in support of the family of Quanice Hayes, a 17-year-old who was shot and killed by Portland police on Feb. 9, 2017.

District spokesman Dave Northfield couldn’t confirm to the Oregonian how long Riser is expected to be on leave.

“The leave is the result of findings from the investigation that was conducted after the February 9 walkout and march,” Northfield said in an email.

A petition to reinstate Riser has garnered more than 1,500 signatures and refers to him as “an important presence to the students” at the school.

The report comes after many students in schools across the country have been penalized after taking part in walkouts to protest gun violence in the wake of the deadly high school shooting in Parkland, Fla.