Two charter school employees lost their jobs after filming themselves in a classroom celebrating Iranian state media threats to assassinate President Trump, but the claim they bragged about being rehired at another taxpayer-funded Pittsburgh school remains entirely unverified.
Story Snapshot
- Two Propel Schools employees filmed a TikTok video in a classroom appearing to celebrate Iranian threats against Trump, smiling and crossing fingers while referencing prior assassination attempts
- The Pittsburgh charter network swiftly investigated, placed the staff on leave, and terminated both employees for violating professionalism and safety policies
- Despite viral claims on social media, no credible evidence supports allegations that either employee was rehired at another charter school or that they were kindergarten teachers
- The incident fits a troubling pattern spanning 12 states since 2024 of educators facing discipline for social media posts celebrating political violence against Trump
When Celebrating Violence Costs You Your Career
The TikTok video that ended two careers at Propel Schools captured something most parents find nightmarish: school employees, surrounded by classroom materials meant for children’s learning, giggling over threats to kill the President of the United States. The employees referenced an Iranian state media report vowing assassination attempts against Donald Trump, adding commentary like “This time it will not miss the target.” Propel Schools serves over 4,000 students across a dozen Pennsylvania districts, operating on taxpayer dollars with an explicit mission emphasizing professionalism and child safety.
Propel’s response came quickly. Administration launched an investigation immediately upon learning of the video, placing both employees on administrative leave pending review. By mid-January 2026, the charter network issued a formal statement confirming termination: “Any suggestion of harm or violence is completely unacceptable. Our focus remains on the safety and well-being of our scholars.” The district declined to identify the employees or specify their roles, citing personnel privacy concerns, which makes viral social media claims about their positions particularly suspect.
The Pattern Nobody Wants to Acknowledge
This Pittsburgh incident represents one brushstroke in a disturbing national portrait. Since the July 2024 assassination attempt on Trump in Butler County, Pennsylvania, educators across at least twelve states have faced discipline or termination for social media posts celebrating violence against the former president. Cases ranged from California to Texas, Florida to Michigan, with teachers posting reactions like South Dakota educator Cassandra Olson’s comment: “Shoot—if only he would’ve had his scope sighted correctly.” The pattern intensified again following the September 2025 fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah college campus.
Education Week documented this wave of incidents, noting that while school districts typically responded swiftly with investigations and terminations, parental trust eroded with each new case. The Washington Examiner raised the uncomfortable question in an opinion piece: why do K-12 educators appear disproportionately prone to violent political rhetoric online? The answer likely involves the same factors driving broader political polarization, but the classroom setting makes these incidents particularly troubling. Parents entrust these individuals with their children’s education and safety for seven hours daily.
What the Evidence Actually Shows
Multiple credible news outlets confirmed the core facts: CBS News Pittsburgh, WTAE-TV, and others verified the video’s existence, the Iranian threat context, and Propel’s termination decision. What they did not verify, because no evidence exists, are the sensational claims circulating on social media platforms. The assertion that these were “kindergarten teachers” finds no support in any reporting; Propel Schools never specified the employees’ positions or grade levels. More significantly, the claim that either employee bragged about being rehired at another taxpayer-funded Pittsburgh charter school appears entirely fabricated.
This distinction matters enormously. The documented facts paint a troubling picture of poor judgment and policy violations worthy of termination. The undocumented embellishments transform the story into rage-bait designed for viral spread rather than informed civic discussion. As of January 18, 2026, the latest reporting confirms both individuals remain “no longer employed” by Propel Schools, with no subsequent developments, legal charges, or employment announcements in any credible source.
The Broader Implications for Charter Education
Propel Schools began 22 years ago in the basement of an old homestead hospital and grew into a network serving thousands of Pennsylvania families seeking alternatives to traditional public schools. Charter schools operate under heightened scrutiny precisely because they blend public funding with independent governance, creating accountability questions that incidents like this amplify. When employees at taxpayer-funded institutions appear to endorse assassination of political leaders, it validates every concern parents harbor about who influences their children daily.
The long-term impact extends beyond two terminated employees. This incident contributes to the erosion of public confidence in educational institutions generally, fueling the parent exodus from both traditional public and charter schools that accelerated after 2024. It also raises legitimate questions about hiring practices, social media policies, and whether charter networks adequately screen for employees whose judgment makes them unsuitable for working with children. Propel’s swift action demonstrates accountability working as designed, but the underlying question remains: how did individuals with such dramatically poor judgment end up in classrooms in the first place?
Sources:
Why are so many K-12 educators prone to violent rhetoric? – Washington Examiner
