Fountain Hills Art Teacher Received 10-Day Unpaid Suspension Over Charlie Kirk Remarks, Records Show
By Matthew Holloway |
Fountain Hills Unified School District (FHUSD) imposed a 10-day unpaid suspension on an art teacher after determining that her classroom remarks about Charlie Kirk’s death violated district policies, according to disciplinary records provided to Councilman Allen Skillicorn through a public records request.
The records identify Marisa Colon as an art teacher at Fountain Hills Middle School and Fountain Hills High School. In a Sept. 22, 2025, formal reprimand, Principal Dr. Kimberly Weeldreyer wrote that Colon acknowledged telling students, “If you live by the sword, you die by the sword,” during a Sept. 11 art class, one day after the assassination of Kirk.
The district’s account states that a student reported interpreting Colon’s remarks as expressing support for Kirk’s death. Colon denied intending to condone his death and told administrators that a student had misinterpreted her words.
In a Sept. 12 email responding to questions from Human Resources Coordinator Kailey Brown, Colon explained that she intended to point out what she considered irony between Kirk’s advocacy for bearing arms and the circumstances of his death.
The final reprimand acknowledged Colon’s explanation while finding that the impact of her remarks was unprofessional and inappropriate in a school setting.
“It was confirmed through investigation that you made statements that were interpreted as expressing support for the death of an individual, Charlie Kirk, when students inquired about him. Specifically, you acknowledged, stating, ‘If you live by the sword, you die by the sword,’” Weeldreyer wrote.
“While you clarified that your intent was not to condone such a viewpoint and indicated these conversations are more appropriately addressed with parents rather than in the classroom, the impact of your remarks was deemed unprofessional and inappropriate in the school setting.”
“Following the investigation, including student interviews and consultation with legal counsel, it was determined that disciplinary action is warranted,” Weeldreyer wrote. “In accordance with District Policy GCQF, you are hereby issued a ten-day unpaid suspension due to this breach of professional conduct.”
The district set the suspension period from Sept. 23 through Oct. 15, 2025. The reprimand directed Colon to stop the conduct immediately, warned that repetition could result in dismissal, and stated that the letter would be placed in her personnel file. It gave her until Sept. 29 to submit a written appeal to Dr. Cain Jagodzinski.
Skillicorn, who publicly raised the allegations in September 2025, supplied the disciplinary records and an email chain showing that the district delivered its response to his records request on Oct. 14, 2026.
In his September 2025 post to X, he wrote, “Fountain Hills Unified School District middle and high school art teacher Marisa Colon is on leave for saying ‘Live by the sword, die by the sword’ in reference to Charlie’s assassination in a classroom full of students. It’s disgusting she has not been fired yet.”
The district’s account describes an investigation that initially resulted in Colon being cleared to return to work before additional concerns prompted administrators to reopen it.
After the initial student report, an administrator identified in the records as “Dr. J” contacted Colon. She acknowledged the remark and was directed to meet with HR. In a written statement described in the district’s account, Colon denied that she intended to condone Kirk’s death and said such conversations should be addressed with parents rather than at school.
The district stated that the primary student was absent Sept. 12 and could not immediately be interviewed. After that interview and consultation with legal counsel, administrators initially cleared Colon to return Sept. 16. Additional concerns from students and parents subsequently prompted further investigation.
A Sept. 16 email and accompanying form placed Colon on paid administrative leave pending the investigation’s outcome. Brown directed her to remain off district property and refrain from accessing district systems or files unless authorized by administrators.
On Sept. 18, Brown issued notice of the proposed unpaid suspension and scheduled a Sept. 22 meeting at which Colon could provide information or context. The final reprimand was dated Sept. 22.
The district cited violations of Policy IMB, governing instruction on controversial or sensitive issues, and Policy GBEBB, governing staff conduct with students.
IMB permits instruction on controversial issues while requiring fairness, objectivity, and professionalism. The policy, adopted Nov. 9, 2022, says personal views are not part of the instructional program and calls for an atmosphere in which differing opinions can be voiced without fear or hostility. It also expressly recognizes due process and freedom of speech for students and teachers.
GBEBB requires employees to treat students with dignity and respect and maintain acceptable professional conduct. It states that violations are serious and may result in severe disciplinary action.
The records production also included two earlier conduct notices.
In a Sept. 12, 2023, written warning, then-Principal Chris Hartmann stated that Colon had used an expletive to refer to a student on Sept. 7 and that students heard it. Hartmann identified violations of policies on staff ethics, conduct, and interactions with students, and warned that further or repeated conduct could result in discipline up to termination. The warning did not identify the expletive.
On April 19, 2024, Hartmann issued Colon a letter of direction for “encouraging students to throw objects at students standing in front of your classroom.” He identified violations of staff ethics and staff conduct policies, ordered the behavior to cease, and warned that repetition could lead to dismissal.
In an email the previous day, Colon described an action-portrait exercise in which students could choose whether to have tape thrown at them while posing. She said students could select alternative poses, an aide was present, and she instructed students against throwing the tape hard enough to hurt anyone.
The April letter stated that it would be placed in her personnel file. The September 2025 reprimand does not state whether either earlier conduct notice influenced the suspension decision.
In response to a request from AZ Free News, the district defended the suspension as the highest level of discipline permissible under state law and said the incident prompted changes to staff training and curriculum oversight. Its full statement appears below.
The district’s statement reads:
“Fountain Hills Unified School District is committed to fostering an environment of respect, civility, and care. Our students look to us as role models for appropriate language and behavior. Any language or actions that demonstrate insensitivity or indifference are unacceptable.
“In September of 2025 following the death of Charlie Kirk, Fountain Hills Unified School District received reports of an alleged inappropriate personal statement made by a faculty member. The statement was made as part of a student-initiated classroom discussion of Mr. Kirk’s death.
“Mr. Kirk’s death was a sad situation that deeply affected so many people across the country. With that understanding, the district conducted an investigation at that time in consultation with its personnel attorneys and the Fountain Hills School District Governing Board. The investigation included conversations with all directly involved parties to hear their perspectives.
“An initial determination was made to allow Ms. Colon to return to work after hearing from the identified parties involved. As a fluid investigation, the school administration and its governing board determined that same day to keep the teacher on leave pending investigation of others who may have had knowledge of the incident.
“Based on its findings of no new information beyond what was initially reported, the district took the highest level of disciplinary actions permissible under state law and in full compliance with the district’s personnel policies and protocols. The district then ensured it communicated the corrective actions it was taking to the parties involved.
“One of the policy changes made as a result of this incident was to require principal approval to ensure alignment with mandated curriculum boundaries and implemented required annual professional development for all faculty and staff to clarify legal and policy restrictions on classroom content and provide tools for navigating complex discussions safely and appropriately.”
Arizona law limits unpaid suspensions to ten school days for teacher misconduct that violates district policy but does not constitute cause for dismissal or certificate revocation. A separate statutory process governs longer unpaid suspensions and dismissal. The district did not specify which statutory provision it relied upon or explain why it concluded that a longer suspension or dismissal was unavailable in this case.
Colon did not respond by publication to a request for comment sent to her district email account.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.