Lee County teacher Mariah Roller, suspended over Charlie Kirk post, should be reinstated, judge says

Mariah Roller, a Lee County teacher suspended last September after posting a controversial message on Facebook, has been recommended for reinstatement by a state judge. Attempts to contact the Lee County School District, school board, and Roller were unsuccessful. Roller’s suspension followed her social media post after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which read, "What about the cost of the Second Amendment being 'some gun deaths every year'? Bye Charlie." Protesters and parents demonstrated against the suspension, but the district claimed posts from Roller and other teachers were so disruptive they had to be suspended. State Judge Andrew Manko recommended Roller be reinstated as a teacher. The Lee County School Board described Roller’s post as causing a "substantial disruption," but Judge Manko argued that only two parents had taken complaints to the school board. The judge also recommended Roller be paid for the hours she missed. In his ruling, Judge Manko wrote, "Ms. Roller's private Facebook post on her personal Facebook page was not unethical." DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment, and original programming on your TV.