A Creston teacher will receive $145,000 and leave her job with a clean record under a settlement, ending a federal lawsuit over a Facebook post she made about the slaying of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Melisa Crook, a Creston High School English teacher, alleged she had been “subjected to retaliation” for “a private, off-duty comment on Facebook” after the district moved to terminate her contract.
The agreement resolves a case filed in federal court in October after the district recommended her firing. Both sides agreed to settle, dismiss the lawsuit Tuesday, April 28, and drop a pending appeal.
Kirk, 31, was a conservative political activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA. He was shot and killed Sept. 10, 2025, while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty against the suspect, Tyler Robinson.
In response to a family member’s post about the killing, Crook wrote, “He is a terrible human being … terrible. I do not wish death on anyone, but him not being here is a blessing.” She later said she “did NOT condone violence” and apologized, saying she used poor wording.
The district placed her on administrative leave and later recommended termination, citing safety concerns and disruption after receiving hundreds of emails and phone calls, most calling for her firing.
Court records show some of those messages included threats, with callers saying “We would like her head on a platter,” warning her to “watch your back,” and in one case stating, “it will be good when this b—- gets taken out.”
Settlement lets Creston teacher resign without connection to Charlie Kirk posts
In late October, a federal judge blocked the district from moving forward with her firing, finding Crook “spoke as a citizen on a matter of public concern” and was likely to succeed on her First Amendment claim. The order remained in place as the case moved through additional hearings and an appeal filed by the district in February.
Under the agreement Superintendent Deron Stender shared with the Des Moines Register, the district’s insurer will pay “the total sum of $145,000.”
Crook will remain on administrative leave and continue receiving her salary and benefits — totaling more than $82,000, according to Stender — through the end of her 2025–2026 contract before resigning and becoming ineligible for rehire.
The agreement requires the district to remove “all documents, memoranda, correspondence, and other materials” tied to the Facebook post from her personnel file, as well as its investigation and the termination effort, including “any related disciplinary or adverse action.” Her record must state she “resigned voluntarily” and include “no reference to termination proceedings… the Action, or the Appeal.”
If contacted by future employers, the district may provide only her dates of employment, job titles and that she “resigned voluntarily,” with “no additional information” about the circumstances of her departure or the lawsuit without her consent.
Both sides agreed not to make “disparaging, defamatory, or derogatory statements.”
The district also agreed it “will not file a complaint” regarding her teaching license unless required by law and must publish a statement, enclosed in the settlement, that says the district emphasizes “respect for the diverse opinions, beliefs, and affiliations” and that “the district supports our educators.”
The school board approved the settlement on April 20 in a roll call vote with four members voting yes and one abstaining.
Crook’s case is one of several across Iowa tied to posts following Kirk’s death. The Des Moines Register identified at least 10 public employees in the state who were investigated, with many facing discipline and filing lawsuits or appeals over First Amendment claims.
Crook’s lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Nick El Hajj is a reporter at the Register. He can be reached at nelhajj@gannett.com. Follow him on X at @nick_el_hajj.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Teacher fired for Charlie Kirk post settles suit. What are the terms?
Reporting by Nick El Hajj, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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