Palmerton High School students protested outside the school Friday morning during in support of their embattled principal.

About 50 students left class to take a stand in support of Principal Paula Husar and at times, against Superintendent Scot Engler.

They congregated on the front lawn of the school for a little over an hour. They came back in after a teacher implored them to complete the school day.

During the protest, they chanted "Bring back Husar, we want Husar," and "Hey hey, ho ho, Mr. Engler's got to go."

Husar was escorted out of the building on Thursday, and asked to turn in her keys, school board member Barry Scherer said. Scherer said no further information would be available because it is a personnel matter.

The students who protested said they deserve an explanation for why Husar was removed, and they wanted to know who was running their school.

"I think we should know as students, who also care about our principal, why she's not here," senior Kaylee Sacks said.

Sacks said the idea from the protest grew out of a tweet she sent out shortly after hearing about Husar's removal Thursday night.

"This principal goes to all of our events, is always there for us, calls everyone by name, is always concerned with how we're feeling as students," Sacks said. "Any concerns we have, she wants to know them."

Students said administrators didn't try to stop them from leaving, but threatened an illegal absence if they left for the school day. Some students who tried to get out after the initial walkout were blocked, according to the protesting students.

About an hour after the protest began, math teacher Alexander Knoll came out and told the students to come inside. Students said Knoll told them they would face less discipline if they returned to class. All the students left on the lawn returned to the building.

"If you all come in, you're showing that you know that there are laws that you gotta follow. We all gotta follow. You made whatever movement you wanted to make, the message is clear. We should go in," he said.