Lawsuit Filed by Former School Worker Over Firing Linked to Social Media Post

A former special education worker from the Knoxville Community School District has initiated legal action, claiming she was dismissed due to social media comments made about Charlie Kirk following his assassination.

Stacey Sumpter, who previously worked in special education, filed the lawsuit against both the school district and its superintendent, Kassi Pearson, after her termination on September 12, 2025.

On the date of Kirk’s assassination, September 10, Sumpter posted on Facebook while off duty, which incited backlash from local residents.

She expressed in her post, “Normally I would say Auf Wiedersehen. But since it technically means ‘until we meet again’… So I say goodbye to you because I don’t want to see you again.” This comment was made in reaction to a photo featuring a list titled “Things to remember about Charlie Kirk,” which included various allegations against him.

Her legal team contends that even though Kirk’s assassination received widespread media attention, Sumpter’s remarks represented her personal views and were not intended to threaten anyone or incite violence. They also highlighted that the post did not mention her job or occur during school hours, asserting it was an entirely private expression.

The lawsuit claims that on September 11, community members contacted the school seeking action against Sumpter for her comments. Despite going about her day at work without incident, she was later called into Principal Jolie Hauser’s office, where she was informed that a complaint had been lodged regarding her post.

That same evening, Sumpter received a call from Hauser notifying her of her suspension as the district looked into the matter. The next morning, she was informed she had been terminated.

According to the complaint, Pearson sent Sumpter a letter stating that the language in her post was disrespectful and conveyed hatred, which led to her immediate firing.

Sumpter’s attorney asserts that she was not afforded due process, as promised by district policy. Allegedly, she was not informed of the potential for her termination or given a fair chance to defend her actions.

The lawsuit argues that the district’s response transformed a public dialogue into a crisis for Sumpter, who, as a citizen, should have the right to comment on significant political events without facing punitive repercussions.

Interestingly, Sumpter is not the only educator in Iowa to face similar repercussions. Other teachers have filed lawsuits after similar situations involving comments about Kirk.

A teacher from Oskaloosa and another from Creston have also taken legal action against their respective districts over issues related to comments made about Kirk. Reports indicate that one of them, former Oskaloosa teacher Mathieu Calgol, was dismissed after posting a remark he described as “rhetorical exaggeration” regarding Kirk’s death.

Meanwhile, Melisa Crook from Creston sued after being put on leave for a post in which she referred to Kirk unfavorably but clarified she does not support violence.

As the cases evolve, it remains to be seen how the courts will navigate these complex intersections of free speech and employment. Legal representatives for Sumpter and Pearson have yet to provide comments on the matter.