The Kaukauna Area School District Board of Education voted 6-1 to fire high school social studies teacher Patrick Meyer after a controversial social media post about a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Meyer, who had taught in the district for more than 20 years, was placed on administrative leave in late April following a post on X April 26.
“I am not impressed with recent presidential assassins. It’s f—ing embarrassing!” he wrote. “Booth, Guiteau, Czolgosz, Oswald must all be spinning in their graves! MAGAA (make Americans great assassins again)! Sad!”
The post referred to the April 25 incident in which a gunman attempted an attack targeting President Trump and members of his Cabinet.
The board met in closed session for nearly 10 hours before taking action. Charles West cast the lone vote against termination. In a statement Thursday, Superintendent Mike Slowinski said the board upheld the termination due to violations of board policy and the significant disruption caused by the post.
“While the district recognizes and respects an individual’s right to freedom of speech, the Kaukauna Area School District remains committed to maintaining a safe, respectful and disruption-free learning environment for all students, staff and families,” he said in a news release.
The district earlier stated that Meyer’s post created actual material disruption to district and school operations. The board’s decision this week ends his employment effective immediately.
