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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – September 11, 2025 — Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas issued a stern warning to teachers across the state following reports that some educators posted “despicable” comments online about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

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In a memo sent to all school district superintendents on Wednesday, Kamoutsas emphasized that while educators have First Amendment rights, those rights “do not extend without limit into their professional duties.” He said teachers who publicly make remarks that undermine the trust of students and families may face disciplinary action, including potential sanctions on their teaching certificates.

“We will hold teachers who choose to make disgusting comments about the horrific assassination of Charlie Kirk accountable. Govern yourselves accordingly,” Kamoutsas wrote in a social media statement accompanying the memorandum.

Upholding Professional Conduct

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The memorandum cites Rule 6A-10.081 of the Florida Administrative Code, which outlines the Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession. It also references sections of Florida law that give the Education Commissioner and the Education Practices Commission authority to discipline educators for misconduct.

Kamoutsas stressed that while only a small number of teachers have been reported, the state will investigate “every educator who engages in this vile, sanctionable behavior.”

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“Certified educators are held to a higher standard as public servants,” the memo reads. “An educator’s personal views that are made public may undermine the trust of the students and families that they serve.”

Balancing Free Speech and Professional Responsibility

The commissioner noted that teachers’ personal expressions online can become a professional issue if they create a hostile or unwelcoming environment for students. According to the memo, if an educator’s conduct “seriously reduces that person’s effectiveness as an employee,” the state can take action to revoke or suspend their teaching license.

Kamoutsas directed district superintendents to share the reminder with all school employees, urging them to maintain professionalism in and out of the classroom.

Next Steps

While the memo does not name any specific teachers or incidents, it signals that state officials will be monitoring educator conduct closely in the aftermath of Kirk’s assassination. Investigations into reported violations are expected to move forward.

Kamoutsas closed his statement by reiterating the importance of maintaining Florida classrooms as “places of safety and academic achievement for every student.”

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