Teachers fired or forced out over old social media posts

Classroom teachers, plus two university instructors. 9 published news cases, 2014 to 2023.

Scan yours first Every case links to its news source. Names left out on purpose.

Compiled by Dave Fradette · Updated October 20, 2026

9 of 9cases ended with the person losing the job, seat, admission or license.
2 of 5cases with a known age involved content a year or more old.

In all 9 the person lost the role: 4 were dismissed, 3 resigned, 1 had another outcome, 1 had an offer or admission rescinded. The content most often concerned race (4), politics (2), the workplace (2).

By type: post or comment (4), like (1), photo (1), video (1), meme or image (1), private messages (1). Of these, 1 involved a like (see all cases of likes costing jobs) and 1 involved a shared meme or image (see the meme and repost cases).

2 of the 5 cases with a stated age involved content a year or more old.

These counts come from cases collected here. They are not a survey and say nothing about how often this happens. Names are left out, and each case links to its source.

For how screening works for this group, see the Guide for teachers.

The 9 cases

Lost the role2023Third-grade teacher, Austin, TXTikTok venting about a meeting with her principal; the district cited its social media policyVideoTeachers
What surfaced
TikTok venting about a meeting with her principal; the district cited its social media policy
How old it was
1 day
How it came out
Went viral overnight
Outcome
Placed on leave the next day; reported as fired
What to look for in your own history
Videos aren't read by the scan today. Review public videos by hand.
Source: FOX 4
Lost the role2022Middle school math teacher, Junction City, KSTweets the paper called racist, including a "#slave" hashtagPost or commentTeachers
What surfaced
Tweets the paper called racist, including a "#slave" hashtag
How old it was
8+ years, some posted as a teen
How it came out
Screenshots recirculated
Outcome
Resigned
What to look for in your own history
Posts or comments a stranger could read as demeaning a group, mocking a tragedy or wishing harm on someone.
Source: Manhattan Mercury
Lost the role2021Newly hired high school teacher, Hanover, MASix TikTok memes on gender identity, race and immigration that she liked, shared, posted or reposted before she was hired, according to the appeals courtMeme or imageTeachers
What surfaced
Six TikTok memes on gender identity, race and immigration that she liked, shared, posted or reposted before she was hired, according to the appeals court
How old it was
Months, before she was hired
How it came out
A resident sent a letter the day she was hired; local media followed
Outcome
Placed on leave, then fired; the district said keeping her would harm student learning. Courts sided with the district and the Supreme Court declined to hear the case in June 2025
What to look for in your own history
A shared meme whose words demean a group. The scan doesn't read images yet, so a meme or screenshot needs a look by hand.
Source: U.S. Court of Appeals, 1st Circuit (via Justia), Bloomberg Law
Lost the role2020Teacher, Wylie, TXReportedly liked a tweet CBS called racistLikeTeachers
What surfaced
Reportedly liked a tweet CBS called racist
Outcome
Resigned
What to look for in your own history
A like on a post that demeans a group or endorses violence. A like counts even though you didn't write the post.
Source: CBS Texas
Lost the role2020Elementary teacher, Kent, WATweets KING 5 called racist, antisemitic and xenophobicPost or commentTeachers
What surfaced
Tweets KING 5 called racist, antisemitic and xenophobic
How it came out
A parent whose child was in the class showed the tweets to the outlet
Outcome
Removed from the classroom and moved to a non-school job
What to look for in your own history
Posts or comments a stranger could read as demeaning a group, mocking a tragedy or wishing harm on someone.
Source: KING 5
Lost the role2017Head football coach and PE teacher, private school, GAA photo on his wife's private Instagram showing the couple holding a bottle of alcoholPhotoTeachers
What surfaced
A photo on his wife's private Instagram showing the couple holding a bottle of alcohol
How old it was
About 3 years
How it came out
Parents showed it to the school board
Outcome
Fired about 20 days into the job; he disputed it
What to look for in your own history
Photos aren't read by the scan today. Review old photos by hand, including ones on accounts close to you.
Source: CBS Detroit
Lost the role2017Visiting professor, Tampa, FLTweet calling a hurricane "instant karma" for how Texas votedPost or commentTeachers
What surfaced
Tweet calling a hurricane "instant karma" for how Texas voted
How old it was
Days
How it came out
Captured by websites before he deleted it
Outcome
Fired; he apologized
What to look for in your own history
Posts or comments a stranger could read as demeaning a group, mocking a tragedy or wishing harm on someone.
Also in your report
This kind of post may also appear as a reputation flag (news event, death or tragedy), listed separately from the Review and Consider ratings.
Source: CBS News
Lost the role2016Teachers (3), charter school, Cumberland, RIChat messages calling students "idiots" and "dumb," with one writer saying they wanted to hit a studentPrivate messagesTeachers
What surfaced
Chat messages calling students "idiots" and "dumb," with one writer saying they wanted to hit a student
How it came out
Students leaked screenshots of the private chats and shared them online
Outcome
The school said it had "parted ways" with all three; the outlet reported that they resigned
What to look for in your own history
Private chats and messages aren't in account exports. Assume anything you send can be screenshotted.
Source: Boston.com
Lost the role2014Incoming professor, University of IllinoisTweets objecting to Israeli action against PalestiniansPost or commentTeachers
What surfaced
Tweets objecting to Israeli action against Palestinians
Outcome
Job offer withdrawn before he started; the university said trustees had not approved the hire. It settled his lawsuit in 2015 for $875,000 without hiring him and admitted no wrongdoing
What to look for in your own history
Posts or comments a stranger could read as demeaning a group, mocking a tragedy or wishing harm on someone.
Source: Boston Globe, CBS Chicago

More cases by group

See all 127 cases and the key numbers

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PruneSocial scores the text in your own account exports, including likes and comments, against published screening categories and gives you one cleanup action for anything flagged. It also lists political, news-event and workplace commentary separately as reputation flags. Try a free 50-item preview.

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