Iowa special education aide fired over Charlie Kirk comment files lawsuit
In a significant legal case that has ignited discussions about free speech and employment rights, Stacey Sumpter, a former special education associate with the Knoxville Community School District, has filed a lawsuit following her termination allegedly linked to a Facebook post she made after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Sumpter, who was off duty when she made the post on September 10, 2025, expressed her sentiments in a personal Facebook message that many community members found offensive. Her message, which included a farewell that implied she would not wish to see Kirk again, sparked outrage among some, leading to complaints directed at the school district.
According to Sumpter’s legal complaint, her attorneys argue that her Facebook post was a personal expression of her viewpoint, not a threat or incitement to violence, and was made outside of her professional responsibilities. They contend that the post did not reference her position at the school and was not shared during work hours or using school resources. Despite this, the day after her post, Principal Jory Houser summoned Sumpter to discuss complaints about her comments. Although she completed her workday without incident, she was subsequently suspended and informed the following morning that she had been terminated due to the district’s interpretation of her post as disrespectful and hateful.
Sumpter’s lawsuit claims that her firing violated her First Amendment rights, as she was speaking as a private citizen on a matter of public interest. Her attorneys assert that she was denied due process, lacking proper notice or the opportunity to defend herself against the allegations. This incident is not isolated; it reflects a broader trend in which educators face repercussions for their social media expressions regarding controversial political events. Similar cases have emerged in Iowa, where other educators have also been terminated or placed on leave for comments related to Kirk. As this case unfolds, it raises essential questions about the balance between free speech and professional conduct in educational environments, highlighting the tensions that can arise in politically charged climates.
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A former Knoxville Community School District special education associate has filed a lawsuit after she was allegedly fired over a social media post she wrote about
Charlie Kirk
after his assassination.
Stacey Sumpter, a former special education associate, sued Knoxville Community School District and its superintendent, Cassi Pearson, after she was fired on Sept. 12, 2025.
While off duty on the day Kirk was assassinated, Sept. 10, 2025, Sumpter wrote a post on her personal Facebook that drew the ire of community members.
“Normally I would say Auf wider sehen; but since that technically means ‘til I see you again’… So since I never wish to see you again, to you; I say goodbye,” she wrote, according to
the complaint
. The comment was made in response to a photo with a list titled “Things to remember about Charlie Kirk” followed by a list of claims against the slain activist.
PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS FACE BACKLASH FOR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS MOCKING CHARLIE KIRK’S ASSASSINATION
Her attorneys argue that while the assassination dominated headlines and was the subject of widespread debate, Sumpter’s statement was “a personal, private expression of her viewpoint.” They added that her comment “did not threaten anyone, did not incite imminent unlawful action or violence, and was not directed at any member of the school community or broader community.” Furthermore, they noted that the post did not mention where Sumpter worked and did not connect her to the school as it did not occur during work hours or a classroom and was not made with school resources.
The complaint alleges that on Sept. 11, 2025, “community members contacted the district demanding punishment for the content of Ms. Sumpter’s speech.” The former educator’s attorneys noted that she attended work that day as usual and the post was not mentioned.
That day, according to the complaint, “Principal Jory Houser called Ms. Sumpter into his office over lunch and notified her that the District had been receiving complaints about the viewpoint expressed in her post.” While her attorneys say that she “finished the
school day
without disruption,” Sumpter allegedly received a call from Houser that evening informing her that she was being suspended while the district “investigated” the situation. Sumpter was informed the next morning that she was fired.
HAWAII TEACHER PUNISHED FOR CONSTITUTION DAY LESSON ON FREE SPEECH, CHARLIE KIRK, LEGAL GROUP SAYS
According to the complaint, Pearson wrote Sumpter a letter informing her that the “‘language used in the post is not respectful and conveys hatred’ and that her employment with the district was being ‘terminated immediately’ because of the Facebook post.”
In response to an email from Fox News Digital, Pearson said the district does not comment on pending litigation.
Sumpter’s attorneys say that since her firing, she had been denied the due process promised to her in the district’s policies. The former educator was allegedly not given notice of her potential termination or the opportunity to defend herself.
“The Defendants transformed a moment of public debate into an employment crisis for Ms. Sumpter. Instead of respecting her right as a citizen to comment on political events of the utmost public interest or even respecting her right to due process to present her side of the story, they chose to silence and punish her,” the complaint reads.
CELEBRATORY, DISMISSIVE REACTIONS TO CHARLIE KIRK’S DEATH PUTTING EDUCATORS UNDER SCRUTINY
Attorneys for Sumpter say the district not only violated its own policies, but also the Constitution. They allege that Sumpter’s firing constitutes a violation of her
First Amendment
rights, as she was speaking as a private citizen and not as part of her duties at the school.
Sumpter is not the first
Iowa educator
to sue after being fired over Kirk-related comments.Â
A fired teacher from Oskaloosa and a teacher on leave from Creston have also sued their districts, according to
The Des Moines Register
. The outlet said that the Creston teacher on leave is expecting to be fired.
Former Oskaloosa teacher Mattew Kargol sued after he was fired for posting “1 Nazi Down” following Kirk’s assassination. The complaint, which was published by
Oskaloosa News
, describes the comment as “rhetorical hyperbole about a widely reported public event.”
In October, Creston teacher Melisa Crook sued her district after she was put on leave over a post in which she called Kirk a “terrible human being,” according to The Des Moines Register. She added that “I do not wish death on anyone, but him not being here is a blessing.” Crook also clarified later that she did not condone violence.
A judge later approved her request to block the district from terminating her employment. However, The Des Moines Register noted that the court has yet to rule on a longer-term preliminary injunction.
Fox News Digital reached out to Sumpter’s attorneys for comment.
