OMAHA, Neb. -- It was the first day back for Benson High School Principal Lisa Dale after she was placed on administrative leave last week.

Dale said she was placed on leave Friday but district officials reinstated her over the weekend.

The Omaha Public School District will not say whether the leave was related to a newspaper issue dedicated to discussion of the "N-word." LuAnne Nelson, spokeswoman for the district, said it was a personnel issue, and she would not comment further on the reason for the leave.

Titled "The N-Word," the report in The Benson Gazette quoted students discussing why they used the epithet and other derivatives. It also contained a question-and-answer transcript of an ethics studies class's discussion of the topic.

Dale said Monday that being on leave was tumultuous for her.

"Not be here in the place that I love -- that, for me, is my heart and soul. The thought of that has been very difficult," she said. "The big question was: Did I see the articles before they went into print? And I did, and so I take full responsibility."

Students crowded around Dale at lunch on Monday. Student Nick George and fellow classmates said they were prepared to protest if Dale was fired.

"It says, 'Support Ms. Dale. Free Press,'" said George, showing off a T-shirt. "The back says, 'Ms D and newspaper are No. 1.'"

KETV.com's online discussion of the newspaper saw overwhelming support for the principal and the students, too.

"I applauded the effort of current students to bring this issue to the forefront. I also condemn the short-sightness of OPS in their reaction to this situation," wrote a poster called "gkkollect."

"This article written by the students of Benson HS is a article that really needed to be brought up for discussion. I am so proud of Lisa Dale taking a stance and standing by her faculty and students," wrote a poster called "bunnie 7."

Dale said she was proud of her students' report because of its thoroughness and the consideration that they had put into the issue.

"It created conversations that allowed us to say, 'You know, even when it's casual, even when it's friendly, it's not appropriate,'" the principal said of the use of the word.

Dale also said she learned a lesson.

"I probably wouldn't, however, looking back -- we'd use the asterisk," Dale said of the paper's decision to spell out the N-word.

Dale said she's just relieved that she will get the chance to tackle these issues at Benson in the future.

"I love my job. I love my job, and I love my students, and I think they know that I do," she said.

The edition has been taken down from the school's Web site. The section contained a special letter on the front page warning readers about some of the language printed inside.

The district said a complete investigation of the incident will be conducted.