Buhach Colony High School principal Robert Nunes was first put on administrative leave on Monday, Aug. 19.

Picture this – it’s a sunny Friday at Buhach Colony High School, and the students are buzzing with excitement as they gear up for a spirited back-to-school rally. Little did they know, the day’s highlight would come in the form of a moonwalking principal and a high-fiving mascot.

An Instagram post immortalized the moment that principal Robert Nunes cut loose with Thor, the school’s mascot, in an enthusiastic dance-off. As cheers echoed through the Atwater, Calif. campus, the light-hearted dance would soon be scrutinized more seriously than expected.

The following Monday, Nunes found himself on administrative leave as the district began an investigation into the incident. Yes, you read that right. One innocent, albeit slightly over-zealous dance, and our energetic principal was sidelined.

Fast forward to Wednesday, September 4, and the news drops – Nunes had resigned from his role as principal. Yet, in a twist straight out of a dramatic TV show, he accepted an associate principal position at the very same school. The resignation was to be effective the next day.

The Executive Director for Merced Union High School District, Torrin Johnson, stepped in as interim principal, stating the importance of maintaining a safe and respectful environment at the school. The principal’s chair will officially open up for a permanent replacement in the spring of 2025.

In a statement, MUHSD reiterated their commitment to safety and respect, adding that corrective actions were taken with all involved. As expected, Nunes remained mum on the subject, declining to comment on the development.

The dance, which began circulating on the internet thanks to the vigilant efforts of a concerned parent, had received mixed reactions. Ryan Attebery, whose 14-year-old son caught the action on camera, shared the video on social media. He captioned it, “Am I a square or was this weird af for a principal to do,” sparking debates and countless comments.

Almost immediately, the District whisked Nunes away on administrative leave. Spokesperson Viviana Fuentes shared that during the investigation, Nunes would be stepping away from all school-related responsibilities. This left Johnson and associate principal David Rogers to juggle the day-to-day operations of the school.

Nunes had just started his journey as the principal of Buhach Colony High School, coming from previous roles at El Capitan and Atwater High Schools. His sudden shift in roles caught many by surprise.

Meanwhile, Attebery emphasized that his intent behind posting the video was transparency, saying he wanted to show other parents what their kids were seeing. Supporters of Nunes from his previous schools rallied to defend his character, attesting to his good nature and likely dismissing the dance as a harmless joke gone awry.

“Everyone’s saying he is [a good guy]. He probably is, and it’s probably just a bad joke,” said Attebery. However, he conceded that the situation remained uncomfortably odd.