‘Despicable comments:’ Florida teachers warned after Charlie Kirk assassination

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – After conservative influencer Charlie Kirk was killed during a college event on Wednesday, Florida’s education commissioner is putting out a warning to teachers in the state.

On Thursday afternoon, Anastasios Kamoutsas announced that he’d learned of some educators in the state who had posted “despicable comments” online 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,” he wrote. “Nevertheless, I will be conducting an investigation of every educator who engages in this vile, sanctionable behavior.”

According to Kamoutsas, certified educators in Florida are subject to ethical guidelines, violations of which could result in their teaching certificates being taken away.

The education commissioner also addressed First Amendment concerns in his announcement, stating that those rights “do not extend without limit into their professional duties.”

“An educator’s personal views that are made public may undermine the trust of the students and families that they serve,” he continued. “An educator’s personal views that are made public may undermine the trust of the students and families that they serve.”

[RELATED: See how Florida leaders are reacting to Kirk’s death]

In a video posted to Facebook Friday morning, Andrew Spar, the president of the Florida Education Association delivered a message to his members about posting on social media.

“I think its really important that, one, we’re careful with what we say and what we post on social media,” Spar said. “Social media is not our friend.”

Spar, who did not mention Kirk’s assassination in the video, went on to allude to Kamoutsas’ memo.

“We’ve got to stand up to those who are trying to silence educators, to those who are using threats and intimidation and doxxing educators on social media, emails, and in so many other forms,” Spar said.

Later Friday afternoon, News 6 spoke to Spar via Zoom, asking him about his impression of Kamoutsas’ memo.

“I think the commissioner can take a very different tone,” Spar said. “One that is supportive and guiding teachers and staff and administrators in our school, rather than one that sends a chilling effect across our districts.”

Spar told News 6 that the FEA is aware of eight teachers statewide who have been placed on leave for social media posts that referenced Kirk’s death.

“There has to be due process,” Spar said. “There has to be an investigation.”

The Osceola County School District confirmed Friday that it is investigating an employee for a social media post related to Kirk’s death. The details of that post are not known, and a district spokesperson declined to provide further comment.

Spar also said he took issue with Kamoutsas phrasing his warning in the memo as if he personally would be investigating educators’ posts.

“It is not the commissioner who is supposed to be investigating,” Spar said. “There is a professional practices division in the Department of Education made up of investigators who are trained in doing full-fledged investigations.”

Videos posted on social media show 31-year-old Kirk speaking with a handheld microphone at at Utah Valley University before a gunshot rang out, and Kirk could be seen reaching up as blood gushed from the left side of his neck.

He was hospitalized shortly afterward, though President Donald Trump — a political figure whom Kirk publicly championed and advocated for — later took to the social media platform Truth Social to announce Kirk’s death.

Trump also declared an order to lower all American flags across the U.S. to half-staff until Sunday at 6 p.m. in honor of Kirk’s legacy.

Authorities on Friday announced the arrest of a 22-year-old Utah man on suspicion of killing Kirk. Tyler Robinson was taken into custody Thursday night, and investigators said they believe he acted alone.

Meanwhile, Kirk’s death also prompted Lake County Commissioner Anthony Sabatini to push for a major roadway to be renamed after him.

“It will be in my district, the suburbs outside the Orlando/theme park area called Four Corners,” Sabatini said. “Hoping other communities around the country also stand up to honor this great national leader of my generation.”