Peabody educator reinstated after review of Charlie Kirk post

Local News

District officials and the teachers’ union said the educator is allowed to return to the classroom.

A Peabody teacher placed on leave after a social media post about the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk was set to return to the classroom on Wednesday, Oct. 1, district and union officials announced in a joint statement.

An investigation into the alleged social media policy violation by Peabody Public Schools and the Peabody Federation of Teachers concluded the educator did not break any rules.

“It is important that our community work together to foster greater understanding and respect opinions that differ from our own,” the statement said. 

“We hope that the same things students are learning in the classroom, including how to engage in debate thoughtfully, the importance of empathy, and how to be a critical thinker, can find their way back into our public discourse,” it continued. 

In September, one of the two Peabody Public Schools teachers who was placed on leave resigned. The district had put the two teachers on leave for allegedly violating district policies and procedures for inappropriate social media posts. 

School districts across the state launched investigations into educators over online reactions to Kirk’s death, including in Wachusett, Framingham, and Sharon.

In a Facebook statement, the American Federation of Teachers thanked the Peabody mayor and district for working with them to “ensure that due process is upheld and the needs of students are put first.”

AFT Massachusetts says it will continue to work with the district to prevent “unnecessary disruptions moving forward.”