On Mar. 24, the school band and theater crew gathered on Wootton Parkway to protest the involuntary movement of arts staff members. Band teacher Susan Eckerle and theater teacher Julian Lazarus were scheduled to be moved from this school prior to the 2025-2026 school year, along with other teachers in different departments.

Lazarus and Eckerle are broadly involved in their respective roles, and students say they fear the arts will suffer without their guidance. “They’ve also been working here for so long and like, the bond that they have with the students, especially Ms. Eckerle, she has like a really good connection with a marching band, so I think it’s good that they’re [protesting],” senior and cello player Annie Sun said.

Although the protest was widely attended by students and parents, they say they know that the transfers are out of their power. Parents attended to show support for their children getting the education they deserve, and students organized and planned a walkout from theater and band. Participating was an effort to show higher-ups in the district that any replacements need to be just as involved to keep the band and theater programs alive. “I don’t think it’s going to do any good. I’m glad that people showed up to help out to support, but I don’t see it affecting anything. I’m sad that we just remodeled and this is happening and that our theater department is finally getting back on our feet, and Montgomery County is deciding to kick out our feet again. I believe that whatever happens next, we will fight through it and have something nice come out of it,” senior and student tech director Alex Smith-Millan said.

Unlike other protests at this school this year, the school band played music throughout, and spirits were generally high. Almost all theater crew members and most of the marching band attended despite the rain and their responsibilities organizing the upcoming “Wizard of Oz” show. Parents, especially those heavily involved with the theater department, may have missed work and other obligations to attend as well.

Although the situation was called dire by protestors, this was also a celebration of the arts and all it does for the school community. Band performers and the theater crew danced while holding up their protest signs and umbrellas. “I think the protest was very powerful and I like the performances that they did. I feel like the arts should keep their funding,” freshman and build crew member Edwin Lopez said.

Even though the future is uncertain, students said they remain hopeful they can make a change and that their voice matters. By continuing to organize protests and taking opportunities to be vocal whenever possible, they take every chance they can to share their concerns.

According to Eckerle’s student aide, senior Sophie Huang, due to the arts protest and a petition, Eckerle was reinstated as the band teacher and will be staying at this school. Administration was unavailable to confirm that this is true, and Eckerle declined to comment.