The Martin County School District has temporarily suspended one of its educators due to online comments reported to the district regarding the assassination of conservative media figure Charlie Kirk.
Kirk was shot and killed at the first stop of his "The American Comeback Tour" in Utah on Sept. 10. Matt Theobald, the educator who was suspended, is being reviewed for statutory and professional standards by the district for comments he made on social media regarding Kirk. He was a social studies teacher at Spectrum Academy in Stuart.
"We are aware of recent social media comments made by one of our educators regarding the death of Charlie Kirk," the school district said in a statement.
Among the comments, Theobald called Kirk a "neo-nazi" and Turning Point U.S.A., Kirk's conservative-focused nonprofit, "the equivalent of a modern-day Hitler Youth Organization."
Theobald's posts sparked controversy online, with some commenters expressing frustration and saying they found his remarks disrespectful and hateful.
"In my opinion, as an educator, unless the comments are made at school, to students, or are so offensive/inappropriate that the district MUST intervene, posting an opinion on social media shouldn’t cost someone their job," one commenter, who is a teacher, wrote on the school district's post.
Some expressed support for Theobald, however, arguing he was expressing his opinion under the First Amendment.
"If the employee commented on their own personal social media they have the right to say anything they want," another commenter wrote.
Per orders of the Florida Department of Education, any educator reported as making hateful comments regarding Kirk's death would be placed under investigation.
"It has been brought to my attention that some Florida educators have posted despicable comments on social media regarding the horrific assassination of Charlie Kirk," Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas said in a publicly released memo on Sept. 11. "These few are not a reflection of the great, high-quality teachers who make up the vast majority of Florida's educators. Nevertheless, I will be conducting an investigation of every educator who engages in this vile, sanctionable behavior."
Kamoutsas stated that teachers’ public statements that affect their professional duties will face scrutiny.
"Although educators have First Amendment rights, these rights do not extend without limit to 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 said. "Florida law allows the Commissioner to find probable cause to discipline an educator who, 'Upon investigation, has been found guilty of personal conduct that seriously reduces that person's effectiveness as an employee of the district school board.'"
In line with this directive, the Martin County School District has promised full cooperation with the FLDOE.
"Our priority remains ensuring that Martin County classrooms are safe, respectful, and focused on student learning. We will continue to work closely with the Florida Department of Education and follow all applicable guidelines in this matter," the statement read.
Theobald could not be reached by phone or text for comment. Pending investigation, he was removed from instructional duties and assigned elsewhere. He remains listed as the president of the Martin County Education Association's Executive Board. The board has yet to issue a statement on the matter at the time of publication.
His suspension is part of a broader online effort to report those who make disparaging comments about Kirk to their employer, with a Florida Atlantic University faculty member also being placed on leave pending investigation.
— Florida Atlantic University (@FloridaAtlantic) September 13, 2025