{"id":42154,"date":"2025-10-26T00:29:31","date_gmt":"2025-10-26T00:29:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/?p=42154"},"modified":"2025-10-26T00:29:31","modified_gmt":"2025-10-26T00:29:31","slug":"teacher-of-the-year-finalist-who-lost-career-over-charlie-kirk-remarks-is-out-for-revenge-bored-panda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/?p=42154","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Teacher Of The Year\u2019 Finalist Who Lost Career Over Charlie Kirk Remarks Is Out For Revenge | Bored Panda"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><b>55-year-old<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> veteran high school <\/span><b>teacher <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">who weighed in on the September 10 <\/span><b>assassination <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of rightwing blowhard, <\/span><b>Charlie Kirk,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is <\/span><b>suing <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">her employer for placing her on <\/span><b>indefinite leave<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Michelle Mickens said on her social media account that the world was a safer place without Kirk mere hours after his passing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The news made it to her workplace, Oglethorpe County High School, where she was called in and then asked to resign.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"post-highlights\"><span class=\"h2\">Highlights<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><i class=\"bullet\"><\/i>Mickens was placed on leave after refusing to delete her Facebook post about Kirk\u2019s Assassination.<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"bullet\"><\/i>Other teachers reportedly showed pro-Kirk support at school without consequence.<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"bullet\"><\/i>Mickens\u2019 lawsuit claims the school district violated her First and Fourteenth Amendment rights.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ensuing complaint is calling foul, specifically because numerous pro-Kirk sentiments were displayed openly by other teachers \u2013 not only on social media, but also on school premises after the fact. According to the filing, these demonstrations were not addressed, much less given the same treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Bored Panda.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<div id=\"recommendations-block-6\" data-position=\"6\"><span class=\"h2\">RELATED:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul id=\"recommendations-block-6-list\"><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h3><b>The head master and the district superintendent called her in and told her that her comment had generated complaint<\/b><\/h3>\n<p class=\"post-content-media-source\">Image credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/mrsmmickens\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">mrsmmickens<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A day after she made the comment, on September 11, Mickens was summoned to the principal\u2019s office.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There she found the headmaster, Bill Sampson, and District Superintendent Levine.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There, they explained that they had been tipped off to her Facebook post by an unknown party who, it has since been established, was not anyone connected to the school.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At that early stage, they noted that they would not be taking action, but just wanted to warn her of the complaint.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>She was asked to delete the post, and when she refused, she was sent home early<\/b><\/h3>\n<p class=\"post-content-media-source\">Image credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/realCharlieKirk\/photos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">realCharlieKirk<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Later that evening, someone contacted Mickens on Facebook and told her that she was being targeted on social media by her former high school classmate, Michael Iniquez.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She learned that Iniquez was rallying against her. In a bid to preempt his efforts, Mickens called another meeting with the principal and superintendent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Still, no mention of disciplinary action was made, but her seniors suggested that she remove the post.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When she refused and mentioned that she wished to consult her lawyer first, they suggested she apologize.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>She was later asked to submit lesson plans, but stay home<\/b><\/h3>\n<p class=\"post-content-media-source\">Image credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/mrsmmickens\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">mrsmmickens<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This suggestion fell on barren ground, too.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After two hours in the front office, Mickens was sent home early with her two seniors promising to contact her shortly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That would be the last day she was on the premises.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She was contacted by the school the same evening and asked to submit lesson plans for the next day, but was instructed to stay home. She complied.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>The court filing observed that other teachers donned T-shirts as a tribute to Kirk and were not disciplined<\/b><\/h3>\n<p class=\"post-content-media-source\">Image credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/mrsmmickens\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">mrsmmickens<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two days later, Mickens learned that she had been locked out of the school\u2019s email server and was informed by her trade union rep that the institution did not want her to return.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She was also told that if she did not resign voluntarily, she would be fired.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The court filing claims that while Mickens was placed on administrative leave, other teachers at the school donned T-shirts and crosses as a tribute to the late Kirk, but went unharassed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhile Ms. Mickens has been on leave, other District employees who expressed pro-Charlie Kirk views were not disciplined for their expressive conduct,\u201d the document reads.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cFor example, several teachers have posted photos on social media wearing pro-Kirk t-shirts at school.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Mickens has since limited the post\u2019s visibility<\/b><\/h3>\n<p class=\"post-content-media-source\">Image credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.splcenter.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">splcenter<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The filing went on to say that the 20-year education system veteran has not removed the <a class=\" staff-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/womans-transformation-goes-viral-after-removing-nose-ring-over-comments-from-men\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">post<\/a>, but tweaked its settings so that fewer people could see it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It claimed that she feared \u201cfurther retaliatory acts,\u201d was uncertain of her future\u2014especially since the school had already replaced her with one Lorraine Genetti,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a hire that appears to have been decided on before Mickens was suspended.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe District\u2019s actions described above have caused significant emotional, reputational, and professional harm to Ms. Mickens,\u201d the document penned on September 20 noted.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>The court filing has accused the school of persecuting employees who hold political views that do not align with its own<\/b><\/h3>\n<p class=\"post-content-media-source\">Image credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/realCharlieKirk\/photos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">realCharlieKirk<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The document went on to say that while Mickens has not removed the Facebook post, neither has she made any more (as she usually does on her personal account, which is in no way affiliated or connected to her professional life).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It claimed that she would like to continue posting as she saw fit, but has been too scared to do so with her employment status in limbo.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <a class=\" staff-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/paris-hilton-makes-startling-claim-about-fathers-estate\/\">filing<\/a> describes the situation as a manipulation by the school to set an example to other employees, entertaining political sentiments that clash with the establishment\u2019s political stance.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>The Oglethorpe County School System\u2019s actions have been dubbed \u201cchilling\u201d<\/b><\/h3>\n<p class=\"post-content-media-source\">Image credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/mrsmmickens\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">mrsmmickens<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c[It\u2019s] a clear and chilling message to her and other employees that speech critical of or inconsistent with the District\u2019s preferred viewpoints would result in punishment or <a class=\" staff-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/celebrities-on-top-of-the-world-until-they-ruined-reputations-overnight\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">career<\/a> consequences,\u201d the document noted.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThis unlawful chilling effect has discouraged Ms. Mickens from engaging in future protected speech that she wishes to make presently.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>According to Mickens, her First and Fourteenth Amendment rights have been violated<\/b><\/h3>\n<p class=\"post-content-media-source\">Image credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/mrsmmickens\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">mrsmmickens<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a class=\" staff-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.splcenter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mickens-oglethorpe-complaint.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">document<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> calling for a jury trial demands that Mickens be reinstated to her position, compensated for the inconvenience, and protected from any attempts at retribution from the <a class=\" staff-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/student-faked-poverty-to-get-scholarship-bosses-find-her-luxury-online-profile\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">school<\/a> or district.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The lawsuit is based on the alleged violation of Micken\u2019s First and Fourteenth Amendment rights and pertains chiefly to her apparent (lack of) free speech.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Mickens post claimed that she did not respect him at all and the world was a safer place without him<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mickens post read:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI don\u2019t condone violence of any kind, and I certainly don\u2019t condone this, but he was a horrible person, a fascist full of hate for anyone who was different.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhile I\u2019m sad that we live in a country where <a class=\" staff-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/multiple-fatalities-at-church-in-michigan-as-the-site-explodes-in-flames\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gun violence<\/a> is an epidemic, the world is a bit safer without him. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI didn\u2019t respect him at all, and he\u2019s part of the hatred and vitriolic language we hear so much now. I pray that without him, people can be kinder and more tolerant to one another.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A 55-year-old veteran high school teacher who weighed in on the September 10 assassination of rightwing blowhard, Charlie Kirk, is suing her employer for placing her on indefinite leave. Michelle &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":42155,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-42154","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42154","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=42154"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42154\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42156,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42154\/revisions\/42156"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/42155"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=42154"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=42154"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=42154"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}