Texas agency investigates teachers over ‘reprehensible’ Charlie Kirk posts
The Texas Education Agency has promised to investigate teachers who posted or shared “reprehensible and inappropriate content” in the wake of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
“Such posts could constitute a violation of the Educators’ Code of Ethics, and each instance will be thoroughly reviewed to determine whether sanctionable conduct has occurred,” Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath said in a letter to district superintendents on Friday.
Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and a 31-year-old father of two young children, was gunned down while speaking at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 10. Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old man from Utah, has been arrested as the suspected killer.
A teacher and football coach at Klein ISD near Houston was fired on Friday after district officials learned of comments he’d allegedly made on social media calling Kirk a “legit racist” and “horrible” human being, according to the Houston Chronicle.
District officials said in a Facebook post that the remarks were “completely unacceptable” and did not reflect Klein ISD’s values.
“The loss of human life to violence is not only heartbreaking, it is a painful reminder of the deep need for compassion, peace, and respect in our world,” the post reads.
A Baylor University graduate student was also removed from his student teaching position with Midway ISD near Waco after allegedly commenting “this made me giggle,” on a post about Kirk’s death, KVUE-TV reported.
In the letter to superintendents, Morath praised the districts for their quick action.
“While the exercise of free speech is a fundamental right we are all blessed to share, it does not give carte blanche authority to celebrate or sow violence against those that share differing beliefs and perspectives,” Morath said.
The Texas chapter of the American Federation of Teachers condemned the TEA’s investigation in a statement Saturday.
Union officials said it was a case of government leaders going on a “political witch hunt” against individuals who don’t agree with Kirk’s political views.
“These ‘investigations’ into teachers exercising their First Amendment rights outside their official duties silence dissent and encourage the purging of civil servants,” the statement reads.
This story was originally published September 13, 2025 at 7:18 PM.
