JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Florida administrative law judge is recommending an education commission drop charges seeking to revoke or suspend a Jacksonville teacher’s license over a controversial Charlie Kirk post.
Judge Garnett Chisenhall made the recommendation to the Florida Education Practices Commission in the case of Douglas Anderson School of the Arts teacher Hope McMath.
It will now be up to the agency to follow the judge’s recommendation, which agencies in Florida do in the vast majority of cases.
Last year, within days of Kirk’s murder in September, McMath posted on social media “Karma’s a bitch - and she heard all of your speeches ....” She later deleting the post - which Action News Jax obtained.
She also shared an image of the author, E. Jean Carroll, holding the severed head of Donald Trump.
The post quickly drew attention and was cited in a letter sent to Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier, state education officials, and multiple school board members.
McMath, who is also a former Executive Director of the Cummer Museum, was removed from the classroom by the district.
She also was the subject of an administrative complaint by Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas, who sought to revoke or suspend her license due alleged violations of state teaching statutes.
The judge’s recommendation to drop all charges included a finding that McMath’s post did not rise to the level of “gross immorality,” according to a Florida Division of Administrative Hearings document.
“The Commission failed to carry its burden of presenting clear and convincing evidence,” the judge wrote.
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