Some Mars High School parents and students find it ironic that a strict principal who does not tolerate excuses allegedly tried to use her position to get out of a speeding ticket.

Others are surprised she continues to come to school every day, accusing her of setting a bad example.

"I thought she would be fired," said Thomas Napierkowski, who has two children at the high school.

Napierkowski is referring to Principal Anna Saker, 51, who was charged Monday with four counts of disorderly conduct and one count of obstructing justice after an alleged scuffle between her husband and a Mars police officer on May 8. A police report says Saker was charged after she repeatedly stepped in between the officer and her husband, Nazih Y. Saker.

Nazih Saker, 64, is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, four counts of disorderly conduct and one count each of terroristic threats, simple assault and resisting arrest. He also has multiple charges tied to a traffic stop for allegedly speeding.

The report says Anna Saker also tried to use her position as the high school principal as well as her association with Mars Police Chief Kevin Radford in an attempt to avoid the speeding ticket that led to the fracas. Both Sakers will face the charges June 4 at preliminary hearings before District Judge Wayne Seibel.

Napierkowski on Thursday said he was upset at the school district's stance that because the incident happened while Saker was off duty, no disciplinary or other measures will be taken regarding her employment. Napierkowski said Saker should be held to a higher standard of conduct, especially given her reputation as a strict and inflexible disciplinarian.

"She rules with an iron fist, but apparently we have a double standard here," Napierkowski said.

He also is incredulous that Saker reportedly tried using her position as principal to intimidate the officer into not issuing her husband a speeding ticket, and that she allegedly told officer Daniel Tressler "you must be new here."

"Those kids in her office (for disciplinary measures), she shuts them up when they try to explain themselves," Napierkowski said. "And she has the audacity to try to use her position to get out of a ticket."

Mars Superintendent William Pettigrew reiterated in a news release Thursday afternoon what he said at Tuesday night's school board meeting.

"As a matter of public record, Mars School District acknowledges that multiple charges have been filed against Mars High School principal Anna Saker," the statement reads.

"The events that led to these charges are not related to school district business. As a private United States citizen, Mrs. Saker is entitled to due process under the law, including the presumption of innocence and a fair and thorough investigation and hearing. Until a legal judgment is rendered, the school district will not comment on the charges or the legal proceedings that will follow."

Napierkowski's son, Mars junior Ryan Napierkowski, decided to take creative action after reading of Saker's incident by making and distributing 28 homemade shirts. The front reads "zero tolerance" and the back reads "4 counts and you're out."

Ryan said he was called into the office on Tuesday when he wore and distributed the shirts. He said Saker and Assistant Principal Todd Kolson asked why he was doing this and if he was trying to make problems. He said he was not asked or ordered to remove the shirt.

"But they said as soon as it disturbs the educational process, 'you're going to get the book thrown at you,'" Ryan said.

He said students are disheartened by Saker's alleged actions.

"It's pretty pathetic," Ryan said. "She's our principal. We all look up to her. She's supposed to be a role model to the student population.

"We're supposed to trust her to make good decisions at school when she doesn't even know not to threaten a police officer," he said.

Mars senior Danielle Winkle said the attitude among students is the stern Saker is in a compromising position.

"She is always really strict and ridiculous toward the kids and it's just kind of funny that she's the one getting in trouble," Winkle said.

Mars parent Linda Slivosky of Adams Township said she is surprised Saker did not resign. Slivosky said if a student had flouted Saker's authority as the principal allegedly did the officer's, "they would have thrown the book at him."

"It is a very, very bad example to set for our children, especially kids in high school who are just learning to drive," Slivosky said.

Karen Whiteford, also of Adams Township, said she will be interested to see how Saker deals with the situation during the next few days, weeks and months.

"It's an opportunity for her to stand up and say 'everyone makes choices and sometimes they're not good ones, but we have to take responsibility for them,'" she said.

Whiteford does not agree that Saker should lose her job over the situation.

"I'm sure she has given students second chances, and I'm not sure she should lose her job over this," Whiteford said. "But I hope she stands up and takes responsibility for her actions."

Saker has not missed any school since the charges against her became public on Tuesday, and she attended the high school honors banquet on Wednesday night.

All calls regarding the situation are being directed to Pettigrew, who was unavailable for comment Thursday.