Duval County School Board’s decision to remove AP Art History teacher Hope McMath from the classroom after she posted about the September 2025 death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk has been challenged in a state administrative hearing. Judge Garnett W. Chisenhall ruled that the district and state investigators found no competent evidence that her social‑media activity harmed students or disrupted school functions, and therefore the license‑revocation complaint should be denied.
Background and investigation
McMath, who taught at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, was pulled from her classroom in September 2025 when Duval Schools and the Florida Department of Education opened parallel investigations into two Facebook posts she made the evening of Sept. 10, 2025. The district concluded its inquiry months ago but kept her off the roster while the state probe continued.
After her contract expired over the summer, the district chose not to renew it, a decision McMath learned about during a July hearing from opposing attorneys. The hearing, held before Judge Chisenhall, featured testimony from McMath, a state investigator, a district investigator, and Douglas Anderson principal Tim Feagins.
Findings of the investigators
Both the state and district investigators testified that they found no evidence any students saw McMath’s posts, nor any indication the posts disrupted classroom or district operations. Principal Feagins confirmed that the only complaints he received were about McMath’s removal, not the content of her posts. He noted that the 50 students enrolled in the AP Art History course were left without a qualified teacher for months, causing some to drop the class.
“Students weren’t talking about it. Teachers weren’t talking about it. Parents weren’t talking about it,” Feagins said. “They were aware because it was in the news, but nobody ever brought it up as a concern of her being in front of their children.” He expressed a desire to have McMath return to the staff.
Legal arguments and judge’s order
McMath and her attorney, John Phillips, argue that her First Amendment rights were violated. In a 22‑page order, Judge Chisenhall clarified that his role was to determine whether Florida law was breached, not to adjudicate the constitutional claim. He rejected all five statutory violations alleged in the complaint filed by Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas.
Phillips told reporters the ruling supports the federal civil‑rights suit McMath filed against the Duval School Board, the commissioner, three board members, and Moms for Liberty. “There is no competent evidence to support a finding that Ms. McMath brought her or the educational profession into public disgrace or disrespect,” Phillips quoted the judge.
Wider context
The case is one of roughly 50 teacher discipline investigations statewide related to social‑media posts after Kirk’s death, according to a deposition. Similar cases have arisen in Clay, Martin, Lee, and Sumter counties, with teachers facing termination or license challenges.
Kelly Brock‑Sanchez, a Clay County teacher, was fired after posting about Kirk, and former Education Commissioner Kamoutsas publicly pledged to revoke her license. An administrative law judge is expected to rule on her case next month.
Impact on students and the school
McMath’s absence left the AP Art History program without an instructor for the 2025‑2026 school year, and the course will not be offered this year. She warned that targeting a few educators creates a chilling effect on hundreds of teachers, potentially stifling free expression in classrooms and beyond.
While the Education Practices Commission will conduct a final review of McMath’s case, the judge’s order represents a significant victory for teachers’ First Amendment protections and underscores the need for clear guidelines on speech outside the classroom.
Original reporting: Jacksonville Today — read the source article.
