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Peabody teacher no longer employed after Charlie Kirk comments

The teacher, who worked at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School, “will not be returning to their position." Another teacher is still under investigation.

Items at a makeshift memorial for Charlie Kirk. Loren Elliott/The New York Times

September 24, 2025

2 minutes to read

One of the two Peabody Public School teachers placed on leave following the shooting death of far-right activist Charlie Kirk is no longer employed, the district confirmed.

The teacher, who worked at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School, “will not be returning to their position,” Superintendent Josh Vadala said in a statement. The investigation into the other teacher “is still active and ongoing,” he said.

“We are currently in the process of identifying a qualified, full time replacement. Teachers have been assigned to both classrooms to ensure high-level instruction continues uninterrupted,” Vadala told Boston.com.

The American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts that represents Peabody teachers confirmed the educator was not one of their members but said it is working to support the former employee.

The teacher resigned, the union said.

“It is regrettable that the Peabody School District chose to disrupt their students’ education over allegations with no bearing on its schools or its learning environment,” a spokesperson said. “Educators are allowed to have opinions on public concerns, just like everyone else.”

Previously, Peabody Public Schools put two teachers on leave “for alleged violations of district policies and procedures, including but not limited to inappropriate social media posts following the death of Charlie Kirk.”

At least five investigations have been launched into Massachusetts educators over online reactions to Kirk’s death, including in the Wachusett, Framingham, and Sharon school districts. This teacher appears to be the first to be no longer employed following an investigation into their apparent social media posts about Kirk.

The alleged posts by the Wachusett teacher and the Framingham teacher were both shared by Libs of TikTok, a right-wing social media account run by Chaya Raichik. One wrote “Just a reminder, We’re NOT offering sympathy” as a story via a personal Instagram account, and the other appeared to be singing “God Bless America” while a television news report covered Kirk’s death, according to the account.

In Sharon, high school principal Kristen Keenan previously said they were made aware of a teacher’s social media post that contained “highly inappropriate and insensitive commentary” about Kirk’s death, but it was unclear what the post said.

“Peabody and other school districts have created conditions where educators and their family members are facing harassment and threats, even as many accusations have proven to be unfounded,” the AFT Massachusetts spokesperson said. “The AFT Massachusetts will continue to protect the right to free speech for all educators and make sure anyone facing harassment or retaliation has their right to due process upheld.”

Kirk, 31, was fatally shot in the neck while addressing a crowd of thousands in Utah earlier this month. Since then, a growing number of conservatives – from influencers to President Donald Trump’s cabinet members – have called for Kirk’s critics to be fired and ostracized.

This story was updated to include additional comment from AFT Massachusetts.