Some public-school districts have refused to say whether they yanked teachers from classrooms for gleefully celebrating Charlie Kirk’s assassination in sick online posts — while a top House GOPer on Friday demanded the educators be investigated.
One school district still employs a New York-based math teacher who spewed offensive remarks, said New York Rep. Elise Stefanik — and higher-ups overseeing two Texas districts would not say whether they were booting their educators who ghoulishly cheered the 31-year-old conservative activist’s murder Wednesday, outraging some lawmakers and activists.
“These are public school employees. These are the people standing in front of classrooms, tasked with guiding and mentoring our children and students,” Stefanik wrote in a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday, demanding an investigation.
“And yet we are witnessing them weaponize their platforms to cheer on political violence and publicly degrade Americans with different beliefs, while representing our school systems,” Stefanik said.
“The comments… are not only disgraceful and morally repugnant, but they raise immediate and serious questions about whether these individuals should be entrusted with the responsibility of educating our children.”
In her letter, Stefanik called out a previously unreported Beekmantown Central School math teacher who she said cheered Kirk’s death on Facebook by writing, “At least he died happy… surrounded by white folk!”
“Alongside this, the faculty member included a photo of Charlie Kirk with the pronouns ‘was/were’, showing a complete absence of moral character,” Stefanik wrote.
The lawmaker went on to condemn a Naples Central School teacher who cheered “Good riddance to bad garbage” — and compared Kirk to a Nazi chief — hours after his death. He had reportedly been placed on leave as of Friday.
Stefanik’s letter, which calls for disciplinary action, insists the teachers’ heartless comments are potential proof that “radical” left ideology is “festering” public schools.
“These are not isolated missteps. They reflect a broader, deeply troubling trend of radical ideology festering unchecked in our education system,” Stefanik wrote. “Those who abuse their positions to promote hate and division must be immediately investigated and held accountable.”
“Such conduct may also raise questions about an educator’s moral character, which may warrant review … regarding disciplinary action,” she added.
Stefanik said the sick statements may violate New York state education law because they “create a hostile or unwelcoming school environment for any student, parent, or colleague.”
As governor, Hochul wields little power over the state Education Department, and firing teachers can be notoriously difficult because of union-friendly collective bargaining agreements.
Here’s the latest on the Charlie Kirk shooting in Utah
- Police identified Tyler Robinson, 22, as the alleged assassin who fatally shot Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10.
- Robinson is expected to be charged with aggravated murder, among other state charges, according to a probable cause affidavit released on Sept. 12.
- Kirk, the 31-year-old Turning Point USA creator, was attending an event on his American Comeback Tour when he was fatally shot in the neck by a single shot.
- President Trump was among many who have called for the assassin to receive the death penalty.
- Kirk’s body was brought to Arizona from Utah on Air Force Two, accompanied by Vice President JD Vance, and taken to Phoenix’s Hansen Mortuary Chapel.
- Kirk, a rising MAGA star, is survived by his wife and two young children.
A third New York-based teacher, from Genessee, had also bashed Kirk on social media after his murder, writing, “Flags at half staff for Charlie Kirk? F–k that. He was a hateful bigot and scumbag.”
The teacher, Michael Chiulli, apologized and was placed on leave, according to district documents obtained by The Post.
Of the roughly half a dozen teachers exposed for publicly mocking Kirk’s death Wednesday, at least two appeared to still be teaching Friday.
They include Jennifer Courtmanch, a high-school teacher at Robert E. Lee High in Baytown, Texas, who wrote, “Could Kirk have baited just ONE too many people? Could this have been the consequences of his actions catching up with him?”
Her school superintendent, Randal O’Brien, wouldn’t comment on if she’d be fired but vowed to “address any behavior that undermines the safety and well-being of students or staff in accordance with district policies and procedures” in a Houston Chronicle report Thursday.
No action appeared to be taken against Joshua Baker, biology teacher from Pasadena, Texas, who wrote, “1 down. Now get the rest of these fools.”
Stay up to date on the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk
- Charlie Kirk shot dead at UVU event
- Charlie Kirk shot live updates: Tyler Robinson acted alone, officials say
- Charlie Kirk assassination suspect turned in by cop father, ID’d as 22 year-old Utah man
- Tyler Robinson acted alone in Charlie Kirk shooting, officials say
- Charlie Kirk’s suspected assassin to be charged with aggravated murder
- Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin Tyler Robinson was seething over campus appearance, wrote ‘Hey fascist! Catch!’ on bullet
- Tyler Robinson threatened to kill himself rather than surrender after dad confronted him
- Tyler Robinson was raised Mormon — and allegedly killed Charlie Kirk moments after he praised the church
The school district denounced his comment as “inappropriate and insensitive” but did not say Thursday whether the teacher would be punished.
Pasadena Independent School District Toni Lopez didn’t return a call from The Post on Friday.
It wasn’t clear if any action had been taken against Kristen Eve, a teacher at the Department of Defense Education Activity at Fort Bragg, NC, who alleged wrote on Facebook: “[Kirk] was a garbage human.”
Meanwhile, at least five teachers exposed for the ghoulish comments had reportedly been placed on leave or fired as of Friday.
Sen. George Borello (R-Chautauqua) called it outrageous that any of the teachers were still in the classroom.
“This is insane that we are allowing these vile people, who are celebrating murder, to teach our children,” state Sen. George Borello (R-Chautauqua) told The Post.
Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) told The Post the teachers in question have, “no business shaping the minds of America’s youth.
“I have never been more disgusted with people than I have this week, watching the reaction to Charlie Kirk’s assassination,” Jackson said. “The fact that schoolteachers entrusted to educate our children are cheering his death is sickening.”
Nicole Neily, the founder and president of the conservative group Parents Defending Education, called for the offensive teachers to be fired.
“There are some professions where publicly celebrating a political assassination is disqualifying because it indicates you are unfit for the job,” Neily said.
“Teaching is one of those jobs and immediate termination is not only appropriate but necessary.”
Other booted teachers include Samantha Marengo of King Elementary School in Framingham, Mass., who merrily sang, “God bless America” in an online video — before a breaking into a news report on Kirk’s assassination. She was placed on leave Friday, according Boston.com
Matthew Kargol, an Oskaloosa, Iowa teacher who happily declared “one Nazi down!” was also placed on leave, the local station kltv.com reported.
Wynne Boliek of Greenville, SC, who proclaimed, “America became better today” after the assassination was fired.
An unnamed Ohio teacher was reportedly also placed on leave.
Hochul’s office, asked by The Post about Stefanik’s call pushing for an investigation into any involved New York teachers, responded by pointing to comments the governor made earlier in the day in which she noted “the rise of political violence right here at home.
“We’ve seen it in an assassination attempt on our President; the murder of Charlie Kirk,” she said. “We can’t allow it to escalate.”
The state Education Department — while noting the “urgent need for civil discourse and ensuring a safe and supportive school climate for all students and school employees” — said it “does not confirm nor deny the existence of investigations.”
