The principal of Camas High School has resigned, following backlash from her students about comments she made on a personal social media account about the death of former NBA star Kobe Bryant.

Dr. Liza Sejkora turned in her resignation on Friday, said Camas Superintendent Jeff Snell in a news release.

“I am working with the Camas leadership to resign my position as principal of Camas High School,” Sejkora said in a statement. “Students and staff deserve to have a learning environment free of disruptions.”

Sejkora was put on leave Wednesday after she posted comments on her Facebook page the previous weekend suggesting that the former basketball star, who died along with his daughter Gianna and seven others in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, deserved to die.

“Not gonna lie,” she posted. “Seems to me that karma caught up with a rapist today.”

Sejkora apologized Monday, but Snell said the following day that because Sejkora had received threats, she had been placed on administrative leave while the district investigated.

Backlash against the comments was swift — according to KGW news, students planned a nine-minute walkout that week, with each minute representing the life of one person who died in the crash.

After the initial post on Jan. 26, Sejkora wrote later in the day that she deleted her initial post “because the comments missed my intent. You are free to judge me for the post just as I am free to judge the person the post was about.”

The next day, she sent a message to families apologizing for suggesting that Bryant’s death was deserved, and apologizing for the disruption her post caused at school.

She said her reaction was personal and visceral.

“In education, we remind students to think before they post online, especially when feelings are inflamed,” she said. “We also teach our students about context. My emotions and past experiences got the best of me in that moment. We also teach our students that what we share has online permanency.”

Snell said the district would have additional supports for students available on Monday, KGW reported.

“This has been a tumultuous week,” Snell said. “However, I’ve been impressed with the level of professionalism our staff members have displayed as well as the caring and compassion from our families.”

—Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR

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