On Monday, community members gathered at a meeting of the Pine River-Backus board of education in north-central Minnesota. That meeting was dominated by discussion of alleged comments made by a teacher in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
At the meeting, the board chair informed attendees that the district received a “complaint involving a staff member, and in accordance with the district policy and the Minnesota law, we’ve conducted an investigation. That investigation has been completed and the matter is being resolved.”
The board chair noted that state privacy laws limit what can be disclosed about the incident he was discussing. When the meeting was opened to public comments, multiple attendees proceeded to address the board about an incident where a teacher allegedly made a series of offensive statements to his class about Charlie Kirk’s death.
Alpha News reviewed a screenshot of a social media post from Angie Holm, a mother whose daughter was reportedly in the class. Holm identified the teacher as Isaak Anderson; a speaker at the school board meeting also referred to the teacher as “Mr. Anderson.”
According to Holm, the teacher told his students that he did not care that Kirk was murdered and he had lots of African American friends who were glad Kirk was gone.
Holm also said the teacher told his class that he was glad Kirk was gone, and that he had a lot more to say on the matter, but he wanted to keep his job.
Addressing the board on Monday, Holm said the class in question took place on Sept. 12th. Describing the teacher’s comments as “unnecessary and uncalled for,” the mother said her daughter was “truly upset” by what was said and she went home in tears.
“Charlie Kirk was more than a political activist to my child and our family,” said the mother. “He was a religious figure and influencer to my child, my family, and many others.”
Holm said she was “frustrated and disappointed” by the school’s response and said she was told the teacher received “a stern talking-to” with no official reprimand or suspension.
Further, the mother said the teacher’s comments could be taken as condoning Kirk’s death. She said the school would have responded stronger if the comments were about someone like Martin Luther King Jr.
A pastor who addressed the board said the teacher’s alleged conduct “violates every moral, ethical, and professional standard required of anyone entrusted with the care of students.”
Pastor Zach Broom said he reached out to the superintendent to discuss the situation but was not given any meaningful information. He said he filed a data request and learned that there was an investigation of the teacher that was closed without any public discipline.
“A teacher celebrating the violent death of another human being has no room whatsoever in our classrooms,” Broom said. “This is completely unacceptable to the families of this district.”
The pastor said the situation had not been addressed seriously and the board must make it right in a transparent and accountable way. He also said he would be equally offended if the teacher’s comments were directed at a gay or transgender student.
“I’m not here because I want to see this teacher’s life destroyed; I don’t,” Broom said. “I want to see it redeemed from sin and hatred. The Gospel teaches that sin has serious consequences, but it also offers forgiveness while still never ignoring justice.”
“Christ did not rejoice in death,” he continued. “He overcame it on the cross so we can be forgiven and changed. I firmly believe that, and this change begins with repentance, not avoidance, not silence. That’s why we must not tolerate this kind of behavior and must demand better from those who shape our kids’ hearts and minds.”
Speakers at the meeting said they were unsatisfied with how the incident was addressed and wanted to see additional action taken.
Conversely, a student who was in the class said he never thought the teacher said anything that would support violence. He also said 80% of the students in the class signed a petition that he put together. However, the student did not specify what the petition actually said.
Two other students who were not present in the class spoke in defense of the teacher.
Alpha News reached out to the school district and the teacher but did not receive a response.
Anthony Gockowski
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and wrote for the Daily Caller.
