Palmerton High School students protested outside the school Friday morning 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 Sherer said. Sherer 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. She said the school's code of conduct allows students to protest school issues on school grounds, and they decided to use that to support Husar."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, Sacks said.The students who protested were eager to share stories about the impact that Husar had on them as principal."She brought us together. There has not been a single event: band concerts, choir performances, drama shows, everything, she is always there," Sierra Hahn said."I used to feel like I didn't belong. She really helped me, she got me out of my shy phase," Taylor Weaver said.Others said that Husar made them feel welcome after transferring to Palmerton from another school."I came from a different school freshman year. I knew people, but I was horrified. She made me feel so welcome. It was just so nice to know somebody like that," Alexsondria Rausch said.The students said they stayed out after acting Principal Rich DiSocio and a school board member said they would receive an illegal absence, but no other action would be taken."A member of the school board did try to come and try to talk us out of this, because he told us he could make a difference, but we are trying to do that ourselves," Weil said.About an hour after the protest began, math teacher Alexander Knoll came out and told the students to come inside.He said they would receive less discipline if they went inside, Rausch said. All the students left on the lawn returned to the building."He said the teachers hear us, and basically, it's going to do the same amount of justice as if we stayed out here all day," she said, suggesting that students wouldn't be afraid to protest again.The students have started a Facebook page, "Bring Mrs. Husar Back."