The Oskaloosa school board is scheduled to vote tonight on its superintendent’s recommendation to fire a teacher accused of making a controversial social media post about conservative activist Charlie Kirk after he was fatally shot during a Utah event.
The board called a special meeting slated for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, to consider Superintendent Mike Fisher’s recommendation to terminate the employment of an Oskaloosa High School teacher whose social media post called Kirk a Nazi.
It has drawn the ire of Republicans in Iowa and nationwide.
The teacher has requested a closed session to discuss the superintendent’s recommendation under Iowa law, so that portion is not open to the public.
What did the Oskaloosa teacher allegedly post?
Screenshots have circulated alleging the teacher, whose Facebook account appears to have since been deleted, posted “1 Nazi down” in connection with Kirk’s death.
Oskaloosa Schools confirmed Sept. 11 that an Oskaloosa High School teacher was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into a social media post. District officials were notified around 5:15 p.m. Sept. 10 of the alleged post.
Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of the conservative group Turning Point USA, died after being shot in the neck Sept. 10 during a question-and-answer session with students while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. President Donald Trump later confirmed Kirk’s death on Truth Social.
Police have arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson in connection with the shooting and charged him with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice, witness tampering and the commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child. He could face the death penalty.
Professionals nationwide facing firings over controversial Charlie Kirk posts
The Oskaloosa teacher was one of the first in a wave of employees in schools, universities and across other industries whose posts left in the wake of Kirk’s death made them targets for GOP politicians and conservative commentators.
The Iowa Department of Education said on X: “Condoning political or any type of violence is reprehensible and has no place in Iowa education. Our educators are entrusted by families with the care and development of their children. Such behavior does not represent Iowa’s dedicated teachers and should be rejected in the strongest possible terms. Local education leaders are charged with investigating these reports in accordance with their local school board policies and Iowa’s standards of professional conduct and ethics.”
Des Moines Public Schools reviewing staff members’ Kirk comments
Two Des Moines Public Schools staff members, including one teacher, were among those statewide who posted comments on Kirk’s death are drawing scrutiny.
DMPS officials have seen screenshots of the social posts, one of which said: “None of us are going to miss how he wasted his life and platform to cause very real suffering and damage to millions of people through policy and politics. He reaped what he sowed. Period.”
Another post stated: “He was THE consequence of his own actions.”
The posts are being reviewed by the district’s human resources department for possible action, said Phil Roeder, the district’s spokesperson.
“Whenever a concern is brought to our attention about a school district employee, the district will review the matter to determine any appropriate steps that need to be taken,” Roeder said.
University employee facing scrutiny over post
An Iowa State University financial aid employee’s insensitive social media post has ignited similar controversy as Republican state lawmakers call on the board governing Iowa’s public universities to immediately fire university employees who have publicly celebrated Kirk’s assassination.
Iowa State University hasn’t said whether the financial aid adviser in question is still employed there. The regents have scheduled a closed session at their Wednesday meeting to “evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance or discharge is being considered.”
Marissa Payne covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Oskaloosa school board votes on firing teacher over Charlie Kirk post
