A Community Divided

KAUKAUNA, Wis. (WGBW) — Kaukauna students are speaking out on behalf of their teacher, who was put on leave afer a social media post about presidential assassins. Parents say they’re outraged, with some demanding the teacer be fired. Caught in the middle… the Kaukauna Area Board of Education.

Students and parents voiced clashing opinions at Monday night’s school board meeting regarding the future of Patrick Meyer, a social studies teacher recently placed on administrative leave.

The controversy stems from a post Meyer allegedly made on X (formerly Twitter) regarding an assassination attempt during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. In the post Meyer expressed disspointment that the attempt failed. While the post has since been deleted and Meyer’s account deactivated, the fallout within the community remains visible.

U.S. Rep. Tony Wied, R-8th District, posted on Facebook a screenshot of the now-deleted X post condeming this type of rhetoric. Wied’s post says this is not the example teachers should be setting for Northeast Wisconsin students.

Outrage from Parents

For many parents in the district, Meyer’s comments crossed a line they say cannot be uncrossed. During the public comment portion of the meeting, several parents expressed fear and frustration over the message such a post sends to the student body.

“What does this teach our kids?” one parent asked the board directly. “If you disagree with someone, we should just kill them?”

The sentiment among these critics is clear: a teacher responsible for educating students on civic duty and social studies should be held to a higher standard of conduct, particularly regarding political violence.

The Kaukauna Area School District released a statement Monday that says:

The Kaukauna Area School District has been made aware of a situation involving an employee’s social media post. The District has placed the employee on administrative leave and is taking additional action to review the matter in accordance with its policies and procedures. The Kaukauna Area School District is committed to maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment for all students, families, and staff, and unequivocally rejects any conduct, expression, or behavior that may encourage, condone, or promote violence in any form.

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Students Rally in Support

Despite the backlash, Meyer found a strong contingency of supporters among current students and alumni. Several individuals spoke in his defense, arguing that the public outcry is an overreaction to a single lapse in judgment.

• A Question of Context: One Kaukauna High School graduate urged the board to look at Meyer’s entire career, stating that “one comment taken out of context” should not overshadow his long-standing record and professional caliber.
• The Classroom Experience: Another student shared her personal experience in Meyer’s classroom, emphasizing that his curriculum never promoted harm.

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Current Status

The district has confirmed that Meyer remains on administrative leave pending further investigation. School officials have not yet commented on a timeline for a final decision regarding his employment.

As the story develops, the Kaukauna community remains split between those calling for accountability and those advocating for the grace of a long-term educator.