Oh not saying I didn't cringe. I would have taken a different approach myself as well. If you clear the room you will reduce witnesses. Personal opinion the principal should have recorded the entire exchange including any and all instances of her refusing to comply with requests/demands to leave the room and go to the office.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa6y...ature=youtu.be
Same video but with slowmo. He grabs her arm to make her stand up. She pulls away. He then tries to control her head (not calling it a headlock because was a pitiful attempt if was his goal or choke because he obviously isn't trying to choke her out.) He grabs her pants leg. She swings at him multiple times as he continues to pull her out. She kicks out and attempts to get loose from him again. While kicking out the desk overturns. He has physical contact with her body during the desk flipping. He is not holding the desk or flipping it. (I think the desk flipping was on both of them, she trying to pull away and him trying to pull her up.) Desk flips and he pulls her out of it and she and he are both directly against the wall. He spins and also spins her. I really don't know if he was intentionally trying to let go or if he just lost his grip.