One teacher is returning, a second is not, after social media comments concerning Charlie Kirk made by two educators in same school district

One teacher won’t be returning and a second will in the same Massachusetts school district regarding comments on social media.

A teacher at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School in Peabody was placed on administrative leave earlier this month following social media posts about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which allegedly violated school district policies.

After an investigation, the Peabody Public Schools announced last week that the educator “will not be returning to their position,” without providing details on the exact comments or the specific policy breaches.

Below is a joint statement from the Peabody Public Schools and the Peabody Federation of Teachers issued Tuesday regarding the status of a second PPS teacher currently on leave over Kirk:

“The Peabody Public Schools and Peabody Federation of Teachers are deeply committed to the wellbeing, safety, and education of all students of Peabody. After a thorough review of the details related to the alleged social media policy violation, the school department and the teacher’s union are pleased to announce that they have reached an agreement that will allow the Peabody educator to return to the classroom on October 1, 2025.

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

“We look forward to continued collaboration and working together to prevent any further disruptions in our schools.”