The Florida Department of Education says any teacher who posts anything on social media celebrating the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk will face harsh consequences.
In the letter sent to public school superintendents, Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas says repercussions could include terminations or having their teaching certifications pulled.
"Although educators have First Amendment rights, these do not extend without limit into their professional duties," the letter states.
Kamoutsas says he will conduct an investigation into any teacher posting such comments.
Teachers are held to a higher standard as public servants and must ensure their conduct does not undermine the trust of the students and families they serve. We will hold teachers who choose to make disgusting comments about the horrific assassination of Charlie Kirk accountable.… pic.twitter.com/KzXCCGkvZm
— Anastasios Kamoutsas (@StasiKamoutsas) September 11, 2025
Gov. Ron DeSantis applauded the move in a post on X, writing, "Celebrating the assassination of a 31 year old father of two young kids is disturbing; that teachers would be among those who do so is completely unacceptable."
In a statement, the Florida Education Association, the state's largest teachers union, spoke out against the letter.
"We will not stand quiet while educators are tried in the court of public opinion instead of receiving the due process they deserve," the union said. "Allowing threats and threatening those in our public school communities is counterproductive."
Teachers in Florida can already lose their jobs and licenses if they use a child's preferred pronouns or a nickname without permission of the parent or guardian, under a 2022 law.
Brevard County teacher Melissa Calhoun was the first Florida teacher fired under the law after she called a student by a preferred name that aligns with the student's gender identity.
Celebrating the assassination of a 31 year old father of two young kids is disturbing; that teachers would be among those who do so is completely unacceptable.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) September 11, 2025
Glad @StasiKamoutsas is bringing accountability. It is sad that we’ve seen a number of teachers across America… https://t.co/nAotVdeqhz
A Florida Department of Education committee ultimately allowed Calhoun to keep her license, but she was required to retake a college level ethics course for teachers and was not rehired in the district to teach Advanced Placement literature this year.
Educational advocates warn that threatening teachers over social posts could lead to more teachers losing their jobs when there were thousands of teacher vacancies at the start of the school year.
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