Charlie Kirk meme triggers calls for Maryland teacher's resignation

Josh Davis, The Baltimore Sun on Sep 11, 2025

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BALTIMORE — A Salisbury teacher is facing calls for his resignation from Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano and some residents after he posted a meme Wednesday about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Kirk was killed Wednesday afternoon as he spoke at Utah Valley University. The FBI is leading a search for the shooter, while the death has sparked a national mix of condolences and condemnation of attempts to mock or praise the situation.

That’s where Jay Waggoner comes in. The Salisbury Middle School social studies instructor shared a meme Wednesday night depicting President Donald Trump whispering to Kirk, “This Epstein thing won’t die, gonna need you to take one for the team.” Waggoner then wrote above the meme, “bait and switch,” implying the assassination was meant as a distraction.

Giordano saw the post and quickly issued a statement Wednesday night on Facebook.

“Tomorrow morning, I will be sending a formal letter to both the Wicomico County Board of Education and the Superintendent demanding the resignation of an individual within our school system who has openly promoted political violence,” Giordano wrote. “There is absolutely no place for this type of rhetoric in our schools. Our children deserve to learn in an environment that is safe, respectful, and free from those who encourage or condone violence.”

She later shared that letter, which reads, “It has come to my attention that Mr. Waggoner has expressed support for political violence, including support for the murder of a conservative public figure. Such views are abhorrent, dangerous, and wholly incompatible with the standards of conduct expected of any educator entrusted with teaching and guiding the students of Wicomico County.”

Giordano, a former Wicomico County Public Schools teacher, said educators “hold a position of trust and responsibility in our community.”

“Their role is not only to educate, but also to model the values of respect, civility, and safety,” she added. “When an individual instead promotes or condones violence, they violate that trust and forfeit their moral and professional standing to continue serving in the classroom.”

Giordano called for Waggoner’s immediate resignation and urged the school board to act if he does not step down. She argued that allowing Waggoner to continue in his position “erodes public trust in our education system and undermines the integrity of our schools.”

Dozens of residents echoed that call on social media, causing Waggoner to eventually delete his Facebook profile.

On Thursday morning, Giordano’s office received an email from Wicomico County Public Schools Superintendent Micah Stauffer and shared it with The Baltimore Sun.

“Please know this personnel matter will be addressed in accordance with our district’s policies, and I can assure you that appropriate steps will be taken,” Stauffer said in the email.

In a statement Thursday, a spokesperson for the school system echoed that the personnel matter is being “immediately addressed. Wicomico County Public Schools staff are reviewing the situation carefully and will take appropriate action in accordance with our policies and commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful learning environment for our students.”

The statement says that the meme “has been an unexpected, unnecessary and unwelcome disruption to school and school system operations. The social media post does not reflect the values of Wicomico County Public Schools and the Wicomico County Board of Education, and is not what we expect of our employees.”

According to the Wicomico County Board of Education’s social media policy, employees of the school district are “personally responsible for the content they publish online, with the understanding that online material is available to the public for an indefinite period of time.”

The document also states that employees may not post commentary, content or images “that may intend to incite violence or criminal activity.”

Waggoner did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Salisbury school officials would not comment on whether he was at the school Thursday.

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