Georgia teacher settles for six-figure payout over Charlie Kirk assassination posts

Georgia teacher Michelle Mickens settled with the Oglethorpe County School District for about $287,500 (roughly $270,420 for emotional distress plus $17,080 in legal fees) after being put on leave for Facebook comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination, and agreeing not to seek district employment again; the case, backed by the SPLC, underscores First Amendment free-speech protections for teachers amid a broader wave of discipline cases following Kirk’s death.