DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — Some families are responding to an intercom message they said went out to students earlier this week at Durham School of the Arts. Parents, who shared a recording of the message to CBS17 News, said Principal Jackie Tobias criticized students who participated in a school wa lkout last Friday. Those who attended the rally said they hoped to spread awareness on bullying and remember 13-year-old Gabriela “Gaby” Ortega, who took her life on Feb. 25. The family had said the teen left behind a note with names of students who had bullied her. FBI investigating alleged hate crime at North Carolina high school In the recording, Tobias said, “Let me start with I find it very insensitive, disappointing, and [the walkout] really does not honor our student that died.” Tobias acknowledged Gaby’s death and stated that students did not come to her to express their concerns directly. “I am just heartbroken to think that our students would run around the schools and think that this is okay for us to honor someone's death like this,” she said. Tobias told students she wanted to clear up rumors and misconceptions of how the school handled the matter after Gaby’s family and others expressed concerns of bullying and had pushed for change and more support from the school especially for Latino families. “If anyone in this school thinks that if someone reported bullying to me, the admin team, or the counselors, or anyone else, that we would not do something about it, you are very much mistaken,” Tobias said. “I had no report about Gaby being bullied. No one came to me and reported that. No one said that to me. Had I heard that, I would have acted.” Tobias said a walkout was not the answer, but instead told students to come to her and ask, “What can we do?” Shortly after the announcement, parents said they received an email from Tobias Wednesday evening where she informed families of her plans to take an immediate leave of absence to attend to personal matters. Durham Public Schools confirmed she announced the leave of absence, effective March 19, to provide extended care for her mother. In the email, Tobias wrote, “This was an extremely difficult decision for me to make. Please know that the DPS administration is working quickly to identify an interim principal to ensure a smooth transition and continued leadership for a school in my absence.” Tobias’ message also included her plans to retire this summer after 37 years of service to public education. Last week during a school board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lewis shared his condolences to Gaby’s family and another family of a student who also died during the school year. DPS officials could not confirm if a bullying report was taken. The district said in a statement, “Per FERPA, which protects student privacy rights, and at the request of Gaby Ortega's family, DPS cannot provide information regarding the circumstances around her death.” The district also stated that Student Support Services was conducting an internal investigation. Furthermore, DPS said it remains committed to providing students with support. “In addition to the Student Support Services professionals who provide counseling and social work services to students who attend Durham Public Schools, the district partners with seven of the county’s mental health resource organizations to provide assistance to students who need services," the district said in the statement. “Co-Located Mental Health Services is a collaboration of community agencies and school-based mental health support,“ the statement continues. “Community mental health providers contract with DPS to provide services to students in assigned schools. “Students are consistently encouraged to seek support from a safe adult if they are either being bullied, observe anyone being bullied, are experiencing suicidal thoughts, or know of another student who may be. Although signs of issues are not always observable, Student Support Services professionals can provide intervention and assistance with a listening and caring ear.“ “Durham Public Schools, over the years, has emphasized social-emotional competencies as a core curriculum for all students," the statement reads. “Durham Public Schools has been a leader in the state by increasing students' awareness of how to be an ally and also an advocate for peers who are experiencing social, emotional or mental health challenges through programming, such as Teen & Youth Mental Health. “Also, Sources of Strength, a suicide prevention program, is being piloted at Jordan High School through a collaboration with UNC-Chapel Hill, with intentions to broaden the footprint across the district," the statement continues. “Student Support Services continues to stay abreast of the latest research and trends in this area and seeks to add innovative programming to address the needs through proven best practices, according to the district. “Through multiple departments, including federal programs, the Multilingual Resource Center, the EL Services division, and the office of Public Affairs, Durham Public Schools offers and provides comprehensive services to support culturally and linguistically diverse students and families. Those services range from enrollment and placement to support for students and families by multiple departments at the district level and at schools.” ...read more read less