Florida Commissioner to investigate teachers after Charlie Kirk’s death
Anatasios Kamoutsas says that he will be investigating teachers who “engage in this vile, sanctionable behavior” following the death of Charlie Kirk.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Department of Education has announced plans to investigate teachers who have commented on the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Commissioner of Education Anatasios Kamoutsas said in a newly released memorandum to school district superintendents, which comes after a Clay County teacher had been suspended, that he has been made aware of “despicable comments” on social media from some teachers regarding Kirk’s death.
“These few are not a reflection of the great, high-quality teachers who make up the vast majority of Florida’s educators,” said Kamoutsas. “Nevertheless, I will be conducting an investigation of every educator who engages in this vile, sanctionable behavior.”
The memorandum also aimed to remind both teachers and superintendents that they are “held to a higher standard as public servants,” citing Rule 6A-10.081, the Florida Administrative Code as well as the Principles of Professionalism Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida. Kamaoutsas also mentions s. 1012.796 of the Florida Statutes, which says that the Commissioner may find probable cause to “sanction” a person’s teaching certificate.
“Although educators have First Amendment rights, these rights do not extend without limit into their professional duties,” says Kamoutsas. “An educator’s personal views that are made public may undermine the trust of the students and families that they serve.”
Charlie Kirk was speaking at an event in Utah where he was shot and killed.
