MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — Florida’s education commissioner is warning teachers to watch what they say about assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
On Tuesday, Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas was at Dr. Michael Krop Senior High School in northeast Miami-Dade, speaking to students about the importance of scholarships and applying for them.
Local 10 News asked him about a recent memorandum he sent out, warning school districts and teachers who choose to “make disgusting comments” about the assassination.
“I’ll keep it very simple,” Kamoutsas said. “An educator who is designated with ensuring the health, safety and welfare of students in schools making comments celebrating violence at a school is very concerning.”
The memo refers to Rule 6-A in the Code of Teacher Conduct in Florida. It outlines the process to investigate complaints against teachers and potential penalties for misconduct.
But the memo doesn’t clarify what’s inappropriate, leaving many teachers concerned about what they can say and do in a classroom.
“We made it very clear that we will look at every case and we will ensure and we will investigate and ensure that they are appropriate, accountability is instilled and that individuals understand it’s not going to be tolerated,” Kamoutsas said.
When asked what he considers inappropriate and who will decide whether a teacher’s comment crosses the line, the commissioner explained: “There’s going to be an investigation, we have a section of the office dedicated to investigating these cases, then it goes to our attorneys who will recommend to me whether or not I should find probable cause.
“If I find probable cause, then it goes to an independent body, whether it’s a division of administrative judge or the education practices commission, and they will ultimately decide what the sanction is. I recommend the sanction, but ultimately they make the final decision.”
The commissioner says he welcomes open dialogue in classrooms but not “celebrating violence on school campuses.” He did not provide any specifics about what he means by that.
He also ended the memo by saying, “Govern yourselves accordingly.”
Teachers told Local 10 News that they now worry that merely pointing out quotes from Kirk that they feel were problematic could get them fired, concerned that the state may conflate criticism with celeberation.
Broward School Board member Adam Cervera said, so far, there have not been any Kirk-related disciplinary actions in the district.
“The intent of that memo was to make it very, very clear that in this district, we are not going to condone hate speech, we are not going to condone murder,” Cervera said.
But teachers expressed concern over part of the memo that reads, “Although educators have First Amendment rights, these rights do not extend without limit into their professional duties.”
The United Teachers of Dade, the union representing teachers in Miami-Dade schools, reacted to the memo in a statement released on Tuesday:
“One would expect that the Florida Department of Education—and more importantly, its commissioner—would recognize this controversy as a critical teachable moment for our students, our educators, and the communities we all serve. As educators, we are committed to the principle that even the most difficult circumstances can be transformed into opportunities for learning, growth, and understanding. These moments are when we help our students see the importance of dialogue over division, compassion over conflict, and solutions over blame.”
“Unfortunately, the current political climate seems more eager to foster division than to support unity. Rather than addressing the root causes of the violence and hate that impact our classrooms and neighborhoods, state leaders have chosen to target teachers’ voices—placing restrictions on personal speech instead of working toward solutions that will keep our children safe.”
“When tragedies born of violence occur, the lesson our leaders should impart is one of empathy, civility, and collective responsibility. Toning down hostile rhetoric and elevating meaningful dialogue would serve as a far more powerful example to our students than fueling political agendas.”
“Our communities deserve schools where every child can learn free from fear and where educators are respected as both skilled professionals and engaged citizens. The United Teachers of Dade will continue to defend the safety and well-being of our students while also standing firm in protecting the constitutional rights and professional dignity of the educators who guide and inspire them every day. This is the true teachable moment, and it is one that we must not let state leaders ignore.”
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