Alachua County school board member defends ‘protected political speech’ amid controversy over Charlie Kirk comments
News 4 Jax | By Tarik Minor | November 13, 2025
The Education Board summoned Tina Certain to explain why she referenced race in her post and to ask if her words affect her ability to serve
CRAWFORDVILLE, Fla. – An Alachua County school board member who is under fire for a social media post about the memorial for murdered conservative leader Charlie Kirk spoke in front of the State Board of Education on Thursday.
Shortly after Kirk was killed, Alachua County School Board Vice Chair Tina Certain posted on her private Facebook account about the memorial held by President Donald Trump, calling Kirk an “uneducated white boy who is being glorified.”
She wrote, in part, “to see the feds & state elevate him angers me.”
The Education Board summoned Certain to explain why she referenced race in her post and to ask if her words affect her ability to serve on the school board.
On Thursday, in front the state board and accompanied by her attorney, Certain told board members her speech was protected political speech under the First Amendment.
“I’m trying to find out how you all are trying to hold me accountable when I have First Amendment rights,” she said. “I don’t get how an appointed body can tell an elected person what they can and cant say, it’s subjective, because you have your feelings at to what you think is appropriate, and I have mine, you all are elevating Mr. Kirk, and he’s not a hero to people in my community, with me, and with people that I know, and it’s not just African Americans there people in my community who don’t see him as someone who is elevated, so are we to be dismissed and penalized.”
Certain explained her reason for referencing Kirk’s race was in response to comments the late conservative activist made, questioning the qualifications of Black pilots, surgeons, and specific political figures.
Board of Education members countered her arguments, saying he comments created division and that they have concerns regarding her ability to represent all students in her district.
“Words matter, tone matters, and there is no difference between a personal Facebook page and a political Facebook page, your name is your name, you are that representative all the time,” Florida Board of Education Member Daniel Foganholi said. “I’m a state board member all the time, whether I’m in church or sitting up here, whether I’m at the park, I have a responsibility.”
State board members told Certain she should focus on issues that directly impact students, like funding, teacher pay, and classroom resources rather than political controversy, and said board members are investigating reports of discrimination in Alachua County.
