LEWIS CENTER, Ohio (CITC) — An Ohio high school principal lamented President-elect Donald Trump’s victory in a message to staff this week, encouraging employees to “move toward the light” despite the outcome of the election.

Olentangy Orange High School principal Monica Asher shared the message in a staff newsletter for the week of Nov. 11. In a copy of the newsletter obtained by Crisis in the Classroom (CITC), Asher told employees that she has witnessed “pain, uncertainty and division” since the presidential election, and she is unsure how to advise them “moving forward ”.

“I can’t write a post that pretends the election didn’t happen, especially since so many of you are struggling with how to move forward,” the director wrote. “I know you are struggling with how to move forward with your students who are afraid, but also how to move forward with colleagues who don’t share your views.”

What I can tell you is that I am here with you and my values ​​have not changed,” she added. “I recognize that leadership is tested in difficult times…anyone can lead when it is easy and I grew up not wanting to do that. just be someone.”

Asher promised employees that Olentangy Orange High School will remain a place where students can “find safety” and where “humanity, dignity and worth” are recognized in all. She noted that while there is “a lot I don’t know,” she is confident her school is full of people who want to “make a difference.”

“That said, I ask you to come with me and move like buffalos through a storm,” the director wrote. “Rather than running from a storm, buffalo usually face it head-on… Heading towards a storm seems a bit strange, but they do this because they know that the first place there will be light is right at the other side is of the storm clouds.”

“We can move toward the light AND we can create the light; we don’t have to wait for it to come to us,” Asher concluded.

Asher’s message is similar to the one being shared by educators nationwide since Trump’s election victory. Carol Bauer, the president of the Virginia Education Association, recently wrote an email to her fellow union members warning them that it “will take time to process what happened and why.”

“The existence of public education and organized educators threatens their concept of control, and they will come after us,” Bauer wrote of the incoming Trump administration. “But we will be ready.”

An Idaho school district also launched an investigation into one of its teachers this week after screenshots of her Facebook exchange with a Trump supporter went viral on social media. The teacher wished the Trump supporter an “unwanted pregnancy” after she expressed her frustration with the outcome of the presidential election, the screenshots show.

Neither Asher nor the Olentangy Local School District immediately responded to requests for comment from CITC on Wednesday, but the district confirmed the authenticity of the memo to CITC station ABC 6 On Your Side.

Do you have something that the Crisis in the Classroom team should investigate? Call or text the national tip line at 202-417-7273.