In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, the fallout is now reaching into public school classrooms across Texas. Governor Greg Abbott announced Monday that over 100 educators are under investigation by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for allegedly calling for or inciting violence in online posts related to the killing of the Turning Point USA co-founder. The educators could soon face the most severe consequence available to the state: permanent suspension of their teaching credentials.
“The educators — more than 100 — will ‘have their teacher certification suspended and be ineligible to teach in a Texas public school,’” Abbott wrote on X.
The announcement follows a formal directive issued Friday by Education Commissioner Mike Morath, who told superintendents that TEA is now actively screening social media posts for violations of the Educators’ Code of Ethics. Morath emphasized that while free speech is protected, it does not grant a license to glorify violence or celebrate the death of someone with opposing beliefs.
The Texas Education Agency is investigating Texas teachers whose actions called for or incite violence following the Charlie Kirk assassination.
Those educators—more than 100–will “have their teacher certification suspended and be ineligible to teach in a Texas public school.” https://t.co/WKXt9H1G4c
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) September 15, 2025
“Free speech does not give carte blanche authority to celebrate or sow violence against those that share differing beliefs and perspectives,” Morath wrote. His office has instructed districts to report misconduct via the agency’s portal, and confirmed that all cases will be reviewed individually.
As of Monday, TEA has received approximately 180 complaints, many submitted by concerned parents, community members, and fellow educators. The volume underscores a broader question that is now roiling public discourse: At what point does free expression cross into professional misconduct?
The sharp response from Abbott and TEA appears to reflect both the emotional weight of Kirk’s killing and the disturbing wave of reactions from within institutions that are supposed to model civil behavior. In the days since the shooting, screenshots have circulated online showing teachers, nurses, and other credentialed professionals posting celebratory or mocking responses to Kirk’s death—some going as far as to joke about it or endorse it.
Texas AFT, the state’s largest teachers’ union, has pushed back hard, characterizing the investigations as a “political witch hunt.” In a statement to The Dallas Morning News, the union argued that educators are being targeted for “personal speech outside of work.”
Update: the @teainfo has received approximately 180 complaints related to the letter sent out last week asking for reports of "reprehensible" content/shared posts by educators after the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
New from Commissioner Morath:
“While all educators are held… https://t.co/z8Kt4oaE2B
— Cameron Abrams (@CameronSAbrams) September 15, 2025
Yet, according to the Texas Educators’ Code of Ethics, professional conduct standards extend beyond the classroom, especially when actions “harm or potentially harm the reputation of the profession.” TEA reiterated Monday that the law provides clear authority for investigating conduct that undermines public trust in the education system.
Though the TEA has not released a list of those under review, officials confirmed to CBS News that the range of possible sanctions includes certificate suspension, revocation, or other disciplinary action, depending on the severity of the violation.