Court records detail outrage among Kirk supporters over teacher’s comments
Dec 15, 2025 | 5:20 pm ET
Description
Creston High School teacher Melisa Crook was the focus of hundreds of social-media posts after she commented online that the murdered conservative activist Charlie Kirk was a "terrible human being." (Photo of Creston High School courtesy of the Union County Assessor's Office; social media posts sourced from court exhibits)
Supporters of the slain right-wing activist Charlie Kirk called on the Creston Community School District to “get rid” of a teacher who criticized Kirk, warned the teacher to watch her back, and stated “it will be good when this b— gets taken out,” newly released court records show.
One of the callers to the school district said of teacher Melisa Crook, “We would like her head on a platter,” while another threatened to go after “every one of (the district’s) employees, find your porn, find your records, find everything and expose all of you.”
The phone-call transcriptions and social-media posts are among the exhibits in a civil lawsuit that Crook has filed against the school district for allegedly violating her First Amendment rights by attempting to fire her for comments she made on Facebook in the immediate aftermath of Kirk’s death.
Crook’s initial Sept. 10, 2025, comment was made in response to a family member’s Facebook post about the shooting death of Kirk, a controversial, conservative political activist. Crook wrote of Kirk: “He is a terrible human being … terrible. I do not wish death on anyone, but him not being here is a blessing.”
The next morning, after seeing how others had perceived her original comment, Crook stated on Facebook that she did “not wish anyone death” and apologized.
Later that morning, she issued a more extensive apology on her own Facebook page, stating: “I do NOT condone violence or the killing of people you disagree with politically or otherwise. That was never my intent … I did not think he should be killed.”
According to the lawsuit, Superintendent Deron Stender called Crook into a meeting on Sept. 15, and reported that the district had received more than 111 emails and 140 telephone calls, with the vast majority of them asking for Crook’s firing or asking that their children be removed from her classroom.
On Sept. 25, Stender delivered to Crook a formal notice of his recommendation to terminate her teaching contract.
In her lawsuit, Crook, who has taught English for the Creston district since 2022, alleges she has been “subjected to retaliation, and is now threatened with the termination of her continuing-teaching contract, because of a private, off-duty comment on Facebook.”
School district discloses phone calls
Included in the exhibits filed in Crook’s lawsuit are dozens of social media posts condemning Crook for comments, some of which include her photo and refer to her as a “vile monster,” a “demon,” a “supporter of terrorism” and an “evil ghoul.”
One individual posted a comment, apparently directed at the school district, stating, “You absolute s— human beings need to get it together and condemn hate.” Another wrote, “It will be good when this b— gets taken out.”
Also included in the exhibits are the school district’s transcripts of some of the phone messages left with district officials in the wake of Crook’s Facebook comments being publicized.
Some of those who called the district specifically condemned Crook for calling Kirk “terrible” and then used that same word to describe Crook. Others quoted Crook as saying she had wished death on Kirk, although the district itself has acknowledged she wrote, “I do not wish death on anyone.”
District records indicate some of the calls were from residents of Colorado, Florida, South Carolina, Missouri, Kansas, Louisiana, Idaho and other states.
A few of the messages, such as “Kill yourself,” and “F— you,” were only a few words long, but others were more detailed. Among the transcribed messages made public by the school district:
— “Yes, this is about the maggot-covered piece of s— that you employ named Melisa Crook, celebrating political assassinations. Yeah, that’s not gonna fly. If this c— isn’t fired — (grunt) — it’s gonna get bad. Have a good day.”
— “Hey, Melisa Crook. So, we’re taking a little gander at your little post there, huh. You little f—ing c—. You murderer. You’re just so f—ing disgusting. I mean, who the hell is allowing you to be around children? You are one vile, demented scumbag. One way or another we’re gonna make sure you get fired and we’re working on it hard, honey. We’re gonna make sure you’re publicly humiliated at work, at home, in the community. Just watch your f—ing back.”
— “You have about 24 hours with which to fire the teacher that posted on her joyful happiness of Charlie Kirk’s murder before I take every one of your employees, find your porn, find your records, find everything and expose all of you. I’ll start with the principal and work my way down. 24 hours. Fire her. Because I’m very, very good at that.”
Injunction against district is granted
U.S. District Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger recently extended the temporary restraining order blocking the district’s plans to terminate her. The order temporarily prevents the district’s school board from taking any “adverse employment actions” against Crook because of her Facebook comments.
Ebinger had previously ruled that Crook “is likely to succeed in showing Stender took adverse action against her in response to exercise of her First Amendment rights” and that she is “likely to succeed on the merits of her First Amendment claim as to Stender.”
Ebinger added that she concluded “Crook spoke as a citizen on a matter of public concern when posting her Facebook comment.”
As part of her lawsuit, Crook has included a 43-page document displaying a series of pro-Republican posts by Stender and school board president Don Gee.
The lawsuit also claims Stender and Gee have each “made at least one Facebook post or comment agreeing with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis asserting that in Florida, individuals have the right to hit other people with their cars” — a reference to DeSantis saying people, if they feel threatened, could drive over protesters.
The lawsuit alleges Stender has made and shared political posts on a Twitter account he also used for school purposes, including content supporting Trump and Republican Sen. Joni Ernst; content condemning the “liberal media;” comments about “riots in liberal cities;” a post about supporters of former President Biden being “snowflakes;” and one comment stating, “if you don’t like America, leave with Bruce Springsteen and the other elites.”
Two separate posts attributed to Stender also called on Iowans to “vote for Ernst” and to “vote Ernst on November 3.”
Crook’s lawsuit also references social-media posts by Gee, the school board president, that include an immigration-related comment condemning what Gee called “bull— left-wing judges.”
Crook’s lawsuit seeks actual and punitive damages for violations of her First Amendment rights. The temporary restraining order issued against the school district in October remains in effect and has been extended through Jan. 14, 2026.
The school district is currently fighting Crook’s motion for a preliminary injunction that would block any further disciplinary action, while the case is pending, once the temporary restraining order has expired. Both sides have until Dec. 22, 2025, to file briefs on that issue.
The districts is arguing that while Crook’s online comments were on a matter of public concern, they are “not protected by the First Amendment given the significant disruption caused by (her) conduct. The evidence will demonstrate (Crook’s) post caused a significant disruption and posed a very real danger of causing further disruption going forward.”
Other comments directed at the district
Here are some of the other comments directed at the Creston Community School District:
— “Yeah, is Melisa Crook still working here? Because really, you’ve, she is teaching the next generation of kids that type of s—, then you guys have a big problem. Get rid of that b—.”
— “You should start thinking about firing that b—, Melisa Crook. Oh, you employ ‘crooks’ now and pieces of s—?”
— “How about you fire Melisa? F—ing f—ts. Don’t know what the f— you’re doing. Just out here saying, ‘No comment, we don’t have comments for this.’ Well, we’ll continue to (unintelligible) you until you fire that f—ing b—, Melisa Crook. Get her out of your school. Or nobody’s gonna come back. Dumbass.”
— “Yeah, you have some sick f—ing Democrat people in that school you need to fire. It’s another trans-shooter. How many times do we have to say ‘another trans-shooter’ before we get smart with trans being a mental illness, and liberalism is a f—ing mental illness. You guys teach nothing but hate. You need to fire that person now.”
— “You’re employing Melisa Crook and she is posting on social media that Charlie Kirk should have been killed and she’s glad he’s dead. We would like her head on a platter. You need to fire that b—.”
— “You have a disgusting, vile teacher, Melisa Crook. She will be fired. Absolute disgrace. Action will be done.”
— “A lot of us on the right were canceled during COVID so now, well, turnabout is fair play. So, y’all are gonna get your taste of it. And I can’t believe somebody like Melisa Crook is somebody that reflects Iowa values. I’ve been to Iowa more than once and people seem really based and down to earth there but, you know, this person is obviously full of hate. So, you really are going to slip her back into the school and let her teach children? People like this need to find other work, maybe, I don’t know, maybe, you know, she can get purple hair and go, you know, join ANTIFA or something. But we’re gonna be watching what you do with her so just know this isn’t over. It’s not even close to over.”
— “I’m not sure what you guys teach your kids in the schools around there but it’s not OK. You need to fire this teacher effective immediately. Or you’re going to have a — Seriously, you’re going to have a, like, national outrage and you’re — Yeah, it’s not going to be good for you guys. I suggest you guys fire her ASAP.”
— “You guys need to terminate Melisa Crook’s employment immediately. We’re sick of this f—ing bull—.”
— “Hey, I just want to say I love the fact that you got some insanely racist teachers that work for you guys. You know, Ms. Crook is a woman that you guys probably should get rid of. I have no idea what she does for your school but she’s spreading absolutely horrible things online. F—ing horrible.”
— “You need to fire your teacher Melisa Crooks … All of you are scumbags and you must answer to the taxpayers. You’re all scumbags. All of you.”
— “Oh, Melisa Crook, hmm, quote – ‘He is a terrible human being, terrible, I do not wish death upon anyone but he/him not being here is a blessing’ — end quote. (Woman in background says, ‘Oh, my God.’) What, what, you’re a sick psychopath. (Woman in background: ‘Tell them.’) And you work in Creston Community Schools, you’re another public school teacher? (Woman in background: ‘Yep. And they can’t keep their damn mouth shut, either.’) Nope, they can’t. And here is, you’re celebrating the death of a murder of Charlie Kirk, and today’s not a good day for you. It’s doxing day. Today is, it’s reckoning day.”
— “Yeahhh. So, kind of wondering why teachers in your school district are celebrating the death of people who just want open debate. Uhm, pretty sure you’ve already been notified about Melisa Crook, one of your teachers. And it’s very disturbing, especially in a state like Iowa, that you’re kind of allowing somebody like that to indoctrinate children with her horrible ideals. So I’d do something about it.”
— “You need to fire Melisa Crook, immediately or my attorney will be suing.”
— “That lady has no right to be in a public school around children, saying them kind of remarks. She needs to be terminated immediately and, we don’t, if she isn’t terminated, we will get together with other people, we would be protesting up at the school.”
— “Good morning. Concerned, disgusted, American here. That you choose to employ Miss Crook — absolutely evil, disgusting. She needs to be fired. You guys are disgusting, too, as long as you keep her employed. Fire her.”
— “Yeah I’m calling about the Creston teacher, Melisa Crook. She needs to be terminated immediately, posting that kind of stuff, hatred on Facebook. We’re not there to have our kids indoctrinated. She needs to keep her political views and her hatred to herself. She needs to be fired immediately. And there will be a lot of people coming out for her to be fired.”
— “Yes, apparently one of your employees, Melisa Crook, is celebrating the death of another young American whose sole purpose was to create positive dialogue between young Americans. The fact that you are defending Melisa Crook, that you have not fired her, indicates you fully support and endorse that behavior and philosophy of celebrating murder in your schools. If she is not fired, we will take action by having several hundred people come to your office to have you explain to their face why, despite your motto of compassion, you believe that teachers should teach children to cheer about murder. We’re waiting.”
— “Hey, my name is Brian. I am calling on behalf of parents around the district. I would like for you guys to go over and, instead of making a statement saying that you don’t support one of your staff’s comments on the political assassination of a f—ing father and husband, maybe you guys could go ahead and fire her like you know you should and you just are protecting her for no reason. Yeah, I mean, I don’t think that a person like that, that advocates for political violence should ever be allowed to work at a f—ing school, around children. That is disgusting, and I will not rest until you guys do that.”
Des Moines, IA
