Houston County school employee resigns after outcry over Charlie Kirk comments

A former Houston County School District employee who made a controversial social media post following the fatal shooting of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk says she is no longer employed with the school system.

Erika Newton, a former nutrition worker at Huntington Middle School, said school officials told her to choose between resignation and termination.

Newton resigned Tuesday, citing safety concerns about continuing to work for HCSD. The district has not confirmed her resignation prior to publication, though Newton provided documentation showing a signed resignation form.

“I no longer, as an employee, felt safe with the fact that (the district) is standing behind such hateful rhetoric of Charlie Kirk when his words directly affected me because I am a member of the LGBTQ+ community,” Newton told The Telegraph. She added that she feels that the district is only listening to the angry parents who have contacted school officials about the employees’ comments.

Newton said she was told her termination was likely, but a decision would come after the upcoming board of education meeting in October. She said she was "waiting in limbo and not allowed back in the school.”

Last week, school officials said they were aware of the posts and the community’s reaction. The district launched an investigation into Newton and another employee, a teacher at Thomson Middle School.

“Over the past week, the Houston County School District was made aware of personal social media posts by employees following the assassination of Charlie Kirk,” district spokesperson Jennifer Jones shared in an updated statement Friday afternoon. “These posts have caused pain and concern for many in our community. The views expressed do not represent the Houston County School District, the standards we expect from our employees, or the values we strive to model for our students every day.”

Jones said the matter has been addressed, and appropriate action has been taken after careful review. The district said it cannot share detailed information due to this personnel matter, but it can assure that the cases were handled with fairness, legal guidance and the consideration of its responsibility to students and the community.

“Actions that do not align with district policies and procedures carry consequences, and those standards apply to everyone who serves students in Houston County,” Jones said.

“We recognize that our community, like our nation, is made up of people with many different beliefs and perspectives. Those differences can be a source of strength when we choose to meet each other with understanding, patience, and respect. As educators, we have a responsibility to model respectful disagreement when it occurs and to show our students that true community is built on listening, understanding, and kindness.

“This has been a hard week for our community and our nation, but it can also be a moment for reflection and growth. By coming together, we can show our children that kindness and unity are stronger than anger and division. Our hope is that this moment helps us come together as a community, renews our commitment to supporting one another, and strengthens our resolve to keep our schools safe, welcoming, and encouraging for every child. We are grateful for our families, our educators, and all who invest their time and heart into our students. Together, we can move forward with dignity and respect, building a stronger, more compassionate community.”

What did the employee say about Kirk?

Newton confirmed she made an online post shortly after the shooting that said “Hahahahahahahaha. Didnt he say the price of a few people dying due to gun violence every year was worth his second amendment right? I dont feel an ounce of sympathy for him.”

Newton said she does not believe her post was indecent, and described it as quoting Kirk from a speech he made about gun rights two years ago, which The Guardian and Snopes have fact-checked as true.

“Maybe it was a little insensitive, since that had just happened,” Newton said. “But it was no more harmful than the words Charlie Kirk had put out there every day.”

The investigation mirrors a national trend of educators and leaders facing disciplinary action after sharing opinions about Kirk’s fatal shooting online.

The Georgia Professional Standards Commission did not confirm if it has received formal ethics complaints against any specific Georgia educators regarding comments about Kirk. The commission’s executive secretary, Joseph Barrow, said the agency maintains privacy during reviews.

“We make it a practice not to publicly discuss alleged information regarding a complaint until facts are confirmed through our investigations,” Barrow said in an email.

The commission also said it will not know if it has received any allegations relating to online comments about Kirk that qualify for investigation until after its commission meeting in October.

When asked about any state-level protocol or guidance for school districts, the Georgia Department of Education said teachers and staff are employees of local boards of education, not the state.

“As such, the department does not hire, fire or take any personnel action related to teachers,” state department of education spokesperson Meghan Frick said in an email.

Conflicting views on free speech

Several Middle Georgia residents shared screenshots of the employees’ posts and tagged the Houston County Board of Education on Facebook, calling for school officials to investigate and immediately terminate them.

The controversy sparked political debates online, with some describing the posts as “despicable,” while others defended free speech rights.

Newton said the community outrage led to people finding her old address and sending threats to her Facebook inbox.

“I was getting hateful messages in my inbox of people saying they wanted to rip my tongue out or saying to watch my back,” Newton said. “I was mostly mad at people saying that hate speech isn’t allowed, but then spewing out hateful comments. I thought it was all ironic.”

Whitney Cochran, a Warner Robins resident and mother of two Houston County Schools students, described the community’s reaction as “less like accountability and more like a witch hunt.”

“I do not believe school officials should rush to appease angry parents by investigating or punishing teachers for minor online behavior,” Cochran told The Telegraph. “Policing teachers’ personal social media activity, especially when it does not affect their classroom performance, is disturbing. It sends the wrong message about free speech and professional autonomy.”

But many families have raised concerns about what they believe was apathetic behavior from people who work with children daily.

Although Newton said some community members have supported her, district officials told her that her actions “harmed community trust” and cited a violation of the district’s social media policy.

The district's social media policy for faculty and staff reminds employees that information shared online reflects the district, urging them to refrain from making posts that they would not want in the news.

“Free speech protects individuals who want to participate in social media, but the laws and courts have ruled that school districts can discipline employees if their speech, including personal online postings, disrupts school operations,” a 2024-25 substitute teacher handbook states. “Personal postings, even if marked private, may also be subject to relevant HCSD policies and procedures, as well as relevant local, state and federal laws.”

The policy adds that employees’ online posts must reflect a professional image and should “not impair the employee’s capacity to maintain the respect of students and parents/guardians or impair the employee’s ability to serve as a role model for children.”

State, local leaders react to Kirk’s death

Kirk, co-founder of the nonprofit Turning Point USA, was shot and killed Sept. 10 while reportedly addressing a large crowd at Utah Valley University. He was known for stances that advocated for gun rights, condemned abortion and gay rights and promoted free speech.

A 22-year-old Utah suspect has been arrested and faces an aggravated murder charge, NBC News reported. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

Kirk, who was an ally of President Donald Trump, received condolences from conservative officials nationwide, including Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones.

“We are absolutely devastated by the news that America has lost Charlie Kirk,” Kemp said in a statement as chairman of the Republican Governors Association. “Charlie’s horrific assassination is nothing short of evil. Political violence is never the answer, and it must stop.”

Kemp issued an executive order to lower flags to half-staff on all state buildings from Sept. 10 to sunset Sept. 14 in honor of Kirk’s “impactful life.”

State Rep. Bethany Ballard (R–Warner Robins) also shared her condolences in a Facebook post.

“Words fail me today with the murder of Charlie Kirk. Political violence has no place in the United States. Please join me in prayer for his young widow, his children, and for our country,” Ballard said.

Ballard did not respond to several requests for comment on the issue involving the Houston County School District employees.

Newton said concerned parents have expressed online that they plan to attend the next board meeting on October 14.

This story was originally published September 18, 2025 at 11:20 AM.