Anastasios Kamoutsas, Florida Commissioner of Education, sent a warning to teachers and superintendents in the Sunshine State, on the heels of Turning Point USA co-founder and CEO Charlie Kirk’s assassination on Wednesday.
Why It Matters
Kirk’s fatal shooting at Utah Valley University has reverberated across the country and state education systems, as teachers are public-facing employees who work with children.
Florida officials say comments that appear to endorse political violence or celebrate a homicide may violate state educator conduct rules and undermine public trust.
Florida’s education chief has directed school districts to investigate and potentially discipline teachers who celebrated or posted approving comments about the assassination of the conservative activist.
What To Know
Kamoutsas issued a memorandum instructing district leaders to investigate educators who posted what he called “vile, sanctionable” comments about Kirk’s assassination and to consider disciplinary action where appropriate.
Kamoutsas wrote on X on Thursday: “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. Govern yourselves accordingly.”
The education chief first commended Clay County’s superintendent “for taking swift action to suspend a teacher who despicably celebrated the death of Charlie Kirk — a dedicated conservative, Christian, and family man. Such behavior is unacceptable and must have consequences,” in a post on X on Thursday.
Similar personnel actions and investigations were reported elsewhere across the country. Newport News Public Schools placed a teacher on administrative leave after a social-media post, local news outlet WAVY reported.
Oklahoma’s education department said it was also investigating a teacher after an online comment, local news outlet KOCO reported. Both districts and state officials said they were reviewing the matters.
Kirk, 31, was a staunch ally of President Donald Trump and a notable younger voice and advocate of MAGA, with a large following on social media.
What People Are Saying
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on X on Thursday: “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. Glad @StasiKamoutsas is bringing accountability. It is sad that we’ve seen a number of teachers across America celebrate Charlie Kirk’s murder.”
Trump on Truth Social on Wednesday: “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”
What Happens Next
Local and federal officials are actively searching for a person of interest in relation to Kirk’s killing. The FBI released photos of the person on social media on Thursday, asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the person.
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