Kelly Brock-Sanchez got exactly what she wanted.
The Clay County elementary school teacher celebrated Charlie Kirk's assassination in September.
And a Florida Teacher slapped the state with a lawsuit after she made one post about Charlie Kirk.
Clay County teacher files federal lawsuit against Florida education commissioner
Brock-Sanchez made national headlines hours after Kirk's September 10 assassination when she posted on Facebook: "This may not be the obituary we were all hoping to wake up to, but this is a close second for me."
The post sparked more than 500 complaints to Ridgeview Elementary School where Brock-Sanchez taught second and third graders.
https://twitter.com/StasiKamoutsas/status/1970149662855172372?s=20
Parents pulled their children from school.
The school district had to bring in extra security just to keep everyone safe.
Now Brock-Sanchez filed a federal lawsuit claiming Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas violated her First Amendment rights by threatening to revoke her teaching license.
Her attorney Mark Herdman argued that celebrating Kirk's murder counts as "constitutionally protected core political speech."
The lawsuit demands a federal judge block the state from any disciplinary action and order Florida to pay Brock-Sanchez damages plus legal fees.
Attorney General James Uthmeier said back in September there's a "heightened standard" for teachers.
Those "celebrating a murder" shouldn't be in public classrooms around children, Uthmeier explained.
State investigation found four violations
Commissioner Kamoutsas found probable cause for four disciplinary charges against Brock-Sanchez.
The charges include gross immorality and failing to protect the health, safety, and welfare of students.
But Brock-Sanchez's lawsuit claims her social media activity was "protected private speech" that didn't happen during school hours or on school property.
Dozens of educators across the country were fired or suspended for celebrating Kirk's assassination on social media.
Universities, sports teams, and media companies all took action against employees who mocked Kirk's death.
DeSantis administration won't back down
Florida wasn't the only state cracking down on teachers who celebrated Kirk's murder.
Texas investigated more than 350 complaints about educators making inappropriate comments.
Oklahoma and several other states launched similar investigations.
The teachers union in Texas even filed a lawsuit claiming the investigations violated First Amendment rights.
But state officials in Florida and Texas aren't backing down.
They argue teachers lose their effectiveness when parents can't trust them to treat all students fairly.
Brock-Sanchez's own posts proved why parents had every right to worry.
She didn't just comment on Kirk's death.
She called him "one less evil person on this planet" and suggested someone else's death would have been even better.
The school district received more than 500 complaints that forced them to bring in extra security.
https://twitter.com/StasiKamoutsas/status/1966194627578384748?s=20
Kamoutsas said Florida upholds the First Amendment.
But that commitment "does not extend to promoting or glorifying violence as a means of resolving disagreement."
Kirk left behind a wife and two young children when he was murdered while speaking at Utah Valley University.
His assassination shocked the nation and sparked tributes from sports teams, politicians, and millions of Americans who valued his work.
Brock-Sanchez decided that was the perfect moment to celebrate his death on Facebook.
Now she's demanding taxpayers compensate her for facing consequences.
Sources:
- Michelle Vecerina, "Clay County teacher sues Florida education commissioner over suspension for Charlie Kirk comments," Florida Voice News, February 2, 2026.
- Megan Mallicoat, "State of Florida to cover Duval Schools' legal defense in free-speech suits by teachers," Jacksonville Today, February 2, 2026.
- Peter Swanson, "Clay Teacher Who Dissed Charlie Kirk Sues State," Clay Today, January 29, 2026.
- News4Jax Staff, "Clay County teacher suspended over Charlie Kirk comments files lawsuit against Florida education commissioner," News4Jax, January 27, 2026.
- Fox News Digital Staff, "Florida issues 'higher standard' warning after teacher fired for celebrating Kirk assassination," Washington Examiner, September 12, 2025.
