No Disciplinary Action Taken Against Key West High School Teacher Brett Fink
- Liana Gonzalez-Blanco
- 3 hours ago
- 5 min read
By: Liana Gonzalez-Blanco June 5, 2026
In the aftermath of the September 10, 2025 murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, dozens of educators and faculty members at schools and universities across the country were fired over comments they made online.
Several have responded by filing federal lawsuits, claiming they were terminated for posts made on their personal social media accounts. Some educators argued that their First Amendment free speech rights were violated and sought relief through the courts.
In Key West, Florida, parents filed complaints related to a social media post made by a social studies teacher at Key West High School named Brett Fink. Parents complained that he made posts critical of Charlie Kirk and other conservative or religious figures. They claim he used a work related Instagram account to push his views against conservatives, Christians, law enforcement, and Republican political figures.
His posts were documented over the course of at least a year. Fink used the same Instagram account to ask for donations for KWHS sports teams and to report school sports activities.
A review of his account showed that Fink’s account was clearly a work related account. Fink provided links to donate money to the school and used the name of the school district and the school, while posting hate filled comments against law enforcement, elected officials, and conservative activists like Charlie Kirk.
A report by Florida's Voice website stated that Fink’s Instagram account posted a photograph of Kirk along with a Bible verse. It also used offensive language which questioned whether Charlie Kirk would be in heaven after his murder.
Fink’s post drew complaints from parents because he is employed by the Monroe County School District. As such, he violated ethics rules required by his teaching certificate in Florida, not to mention insulting students and families of Christian and conservative political backgrounds.
The Florida Voice article reported that the Monroe County School District acknowledged being aware of concerns about a staff member's social media activity and stated that, after consulting with the Florida Department of Education, "appropriate action" had been taken.
The school district did not publicly identify the employee, describe the action taken, or announce any formal disciplinary findings. The state database for such hearings and actions taken doesn’t list Brett Fink, as of when this article was published.
When pressed for details at local community meetings in Key West, Superintendent Tierney refused to give details, but did acknowledge after being pressed that an investigation did take place regarding the offensive social media posts.
Some students and parents at Key West High School reported being interviewed at the school by state investigators regarding the complaint against Mr. Fink.
In the meantime, some parents in Monroe County have concerns about their children being in the same classroom with a teacher who glorifies violence, especially that of a school shooting such as with Charlie Kirk. He was shot in the neck on live television while talking to students at a university campus.
Students in K-12 schools in Florida practice active shooter drills throughout the school year. They are asked to mentally prepare for such scenarios and to have a plan of action to survive. This is required by law after several horrific school shootings took place in Florida.
Adding to the fear students already feel about school shootings is the deranged focus on conservatives as viable targets of violence. Social media, including Brett Fink’s KWHS Instagram, was full of such comments. Unfortunately, the Charlie Kirk murder was applauded by these violent liberal activists nationwide.
The Brett Fink controversy at the Key West High School occurred during a larger national debate over educators and public employees posting reactions to Kirk's assassination.
Multiple school districts around the country investigated employees for social media comments, and Florida officials publicly warned that teachers could face professional consequences for posts that appeared to celebrate political violence.
At the time of Brett Fink’s shocking post, Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas issued a statewide memorandum warning that educators who posted comments celebrating or encouraging violence related to Kirk's assassination could face investigations and possible sanctions against their teaching certificates.
In his memo to superintendents of schools, Kamoutsas stated: “Although educators have First Amendment rights, these rights do not extend without limit into their professional duties. An educator’s personal views that are made public may undermine the trust of the students and families that they serve. If an educator’s conduct causes a student or his or her family to feel unwelcome or unwilling to participate in the learning environment, it may be a violation of Rule 6A-10.081, F.A.C. Florida law allows the Commissioner to find probable cause to discipline an educator who, “upon investigation, has been found guilty of personal conduct that seriously reduces that person’s effectiveness as an employee of the district school board.”
After the parent complaints were filed, Fink went to the same Instagram account and defended his right to express political opinions under the First Amendment. He did not deny making the post and even went so far as to challenge the Commissioner of Education to “piss right off.” He showed no concern for the emotional impact to his students, nor did he post anything remotely resembling an apology to students who were mourning Kirk’s murder.
The Key West High School and the Monroe County School Board have remained silent regarding the complaints. No publicly available records show that he was fired, suspended, or formally disciplined.
Seeking comfort and a place to express their views safely, a new club was formed at the Key West High School called Club America. This is the high-school affiliate of Turning Point USA, the conservative youth organization founded by Charlie Kirk. It was launched in 2025 to organize student-led clubs at high schools across the country.
The club promotes conservative and patriotic viewpoints, with activities centered on the U.S. Constitution, free speech, free-market economics, civic engagement, leadership development, debate, and political activism.
According to Club America’s own website, it had more than 1,200 high school chapters nationwide, and more recent reports from 2026 indicate the organization has grown to more than 3,200 chapters across the United States.
The question of whether or not a teacher has the right to say disturbing things on work related social media accounts is being litigated in the courts.
Outside of the legal system, basic human decency and common sense should balance what a teacher shares on social media and the classroom. The focus should be on compassion and understanding for all student viewpoints, so they can feel safe in school.
Liana Gonzalez-Blanco
Liana is a Key West native who loves writing about her island home. She taught English to students in grades 6–12 for nearly 35 years in Key West schools, sharing her love of literature and language with generations of local students. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Central Florida. Liana is the owner of Conch Media Group, LLC, and the creator and manager of The Key West Post. Her goal is to keep readers informed about the issues that matter most in Key West. As a lifelong local, she offers a perspective often missing from corporate media and from journalists and bloggers who are new to the island. When Liana isn't writing and managing this website, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family. On most days, you’ll find her walking, biking, or running outdoors, soaking up the natural beauty, friendly people, and diverse cultures that make Key West so special. Some articles are free for everybody. However, readers can access all articles and support her local independent news website by joining a pay plan here and cancel anytime without any hassles. Membership includes the use of a free App. Readers can also join the free newsletter here.
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