Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano on Wednesday called for the resignation of a Salisbury Middle School teacher after an alleged social media post that appeared to mock the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Local outlets WBOC and The Baltimore Sun reported that the unidentified middle school teacher shared a meme that depicted former President Donald Trump telling Kirk, "This [Jeffrey] Epstein thing won’t die, gonna need you to take one for the team." The posts prompted widespread backlash on social media and complaints from residents.
"The tragic and senseless death of Charlie Kirk has shaken so many across our nation, and like many of you, I have been deeply disturbed to see some of the horrific and inappropriate posts circulating on social media in response to this loss," Giordano said in a statement to Fox News Digital. She added that celebrating or mocking the death of any individual "is cruel, unacceptable, and has no place in our community." On Facebook, Giordano wrote that she would send a formal letter to the Wicomico County Board of Education and the superintendent demanding the resignation of the individual who she said "openly promoted political violence," The Baltimore Sun reported.
Wicomico County Public Schools said it was made aware of the social media post Wednesday evening and is reviewing the teacher's actions. A district spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the posting "has been an unexpected, unnecessary and unwelcome disruption to school and school system operations" and does not reflect the values of the district or the board of education. The district said it will take appropriate action in accordance with its policies while noting that it cannot comment on personnel matters.
At least two other posts by local teachers drew outrage, WBOC reported, as residents and local officials expressed concern about educators publicly reacting to the killing. Giordano urged the community to set a higher standard of civility, saying political disagreements "should never cross into the realm of dehumanization or the glorification of violence."
The school system said it appreciated those who contacted officials to express concerns and reiterated its commitment to maintaining a respectful learning environment. The matter now falls to the Wicomico County Board of Education and the superintendent to determine whether personnel action is warranted under district policy.
The controversy comes amid national attention to reactions on social media following Kirk's death, with lawmakers and public figures across the political spectrum condemning calls or celebrations of violence. Wicomico County officials have limited public details about the personnel review but emphasized adherence to district procedures and the protection of students' educational environment.
The school district and the board did not provide a timeline for completing the review or for any subsequent personnel proceedings.