Tensions ran high at Thursday night’s Clark County School Board meeting in Las Vegas, where parents, teachers, and community members packed the Edward A. Greer Education Center to debate one big question:
Did local teachers go too far with social media posts about Charlie Kirk’s assassination, or is the district overstepping its bounds by disciplining them?
The Backdrop
The Clark County School District (CCSD) is the fifth-largest in the nation, serving around 285,000 students in Southern Nevada.
On Sept. 15, Superintendent Jhone Ebert announced that several teachers had been “not assigned to classrooms” after online comments about Kirk’s death caused what the district called a “substantial disruption.”
The exact posts haven’t been released, but at least four Facebook accounts linked to educators drew backlash after the 40-year-old conservative activist was killed earlier this month.
According to parents and advocacy groups, some of those posts were offensive or celebratory in tone, sparking outrage from organizations like Moms for Liberty and Power2Parent.
Ebert Took Action, but Parents Want the Board to Go Further
One local mother, Sarah McGahan, said she pulled her son from CCSD this week because the district didn’t act fast enough.
“These teachers, and sadly others, have made it abundantly clear they are not fit to be in a classroom,” McGahan told trustees. “Do the right thing.”
Supporters in the audience wore white buttons reading “I am Charlie,” a reminder that many in the community see this not just as a discipline issue, but as a moral line in the sand.
Erin Phillips, president of Power2Parent, urged the board to go further after thanking Ebert for taking action.
“These teachers are free to say whatever they want. But they are not entitled to whatever job they want, especially when their words prove them unfit for the responsibility of teaching children.”
Teachers’ Union Allies Say District Went Too Far
Not everyone agreed. Vicki Kreidel, former head of the National Education Association of Southern Nevada, said CCSD has no clear rules for what educators can or can’t post on personal social media.
“If we’re not supposed to cross certain lines, wouldn’t it make sense that we’re aware of what they are?” she asked.
Stephen Felgar, another speaker, went further, calling the district’s actions “un-American.”
“What these teachers did was bad, but what you’re doing is worse. You’re the government, and the government has no business suppressing free speech,” he argued.
What the Law Says
The debate isn’t new. For decades, courts have struggled to balance public employees’ free speech rights with a government employer’s duty to keep order.
In 1968, the Supreme Court said teachers can speak on public issues as private citizens, unless it disrupts the workplace. But in 2006, the Court ruled speech made as part of official duties isn’t protected.
That gray area is exactly where CCSD now finds itself.
Were these teachers posting as private citizens, or did their comments cross a line by undermining trust in the classroom?
Another Blow to Trust in Schools
The incident isn’t unique to Nevada. Just last week, a Texas teacher was fired for celebrating Kirk’s death on Facebook.
Across the country, school districts are wrestling with how to respond when educators make political or inflammatory posts online.
In Nevada, this comes on top of growing frustration with CCSD over test scores, discipline problems, and declining enrollment. This year, CCSD enrollment came in about 3,600 students lower than projected, costing the district millions in state funding.
For parents already concerned about what their kids are being taught, the Kirk controversy is another blow to confidence in the district.
“Our Children Are Watching”
The teachers’ union, Clark County Education Association, says it is still investigating and hasn’t taken a formal position. For now, district leaders aren’t releasing names or specific posts, citing privacy laws.
But parents aren’t waiting. Groups like Moms for Liberty and Power2Parent are mobilizing, saying this fight is about more than one tragedy. It’s about what kind of values Nevada classrooms should reflect.
As one speaker put it Thursday night, “Our children are watching. If teachers can mock the death of a conservative leader and keep their jobs, what message does that send?”
While some teachers have already been reassigned, no further action has been announced — leaving many parents pressing for stronger measures, and others warning about free speech overreach.
In a district already under scrutiny, this controversy may prove to be a turning point.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
