By Illinois Review
Parents at Twin Groves Middle School in Buffalo Grove are raising alarms over a teacher’s political extremism — concerns they say extend far beyond the classroom and have now reached The White House.
In a letter shared exclusively with Illinois Review, allies of local families with direct ties to The White House have conveyed community concerns about teacher Carolyn Pinta — citing her inflammatory reaction to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and her opposition to a memorial in his honor. The allies submitted the letter on behalf of the concerned parents.
“Twin Groves Middle School in Buffalo Grove, Illinois — located just a few miles from Charlie Kirk’s hometown — currently employs a teacher who routinely posts inflammatory, anti-Trump, and anti-conservative comments on social media. Most recently, she posted vile remarks regarding Mr. Kirk’s killing and is actively working to block a public memorial where his legacy would be honored,” the letter stated.
“We are seeing similar troubling behavior from both educators and members of the military across the country. What is the White House’s comment on these types of public remarks and actions?” it concluded.
The teacher at the center of the firestorm is no stranger to controversy. Over the past several years, Pinta has posted a steady stream of offensive content online, attacking conservatives, disparaging America and even mocking patriotic organizations. But her recent remarks about Kirk – who grew up just miles from Twin Groves – ignited national outrage and forced parents to demand answers.
Parents began raising concerns when Pinta took to Facebook after Kirk’s assassination, calling his death “ironic” in response to a comment that “karma is a b**ch.” In the same thread, she compared Kirk’s rallies to early Nazi events, saying, “Yes, like the young men in uniforms at a rally in the ’30s.”
The middle school teacher has generated national attention on social media – even drawing the attention of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who previously served as Associate Attorney General of the United States and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
As if mocking Kirk’s death were not enough, Pinta went further – promoting an online petition opposing plans to recognize Kirk and his organization, Turning Point USA, within School District 214. She urged others to sign, writing: “Opposing petition that you WILL want to sign, this one AGAINST glorifying Charlie Kirk.”
Her comments struck a nerve not only because of their cruelty but because of their hypocrisy. Just a few years ago, Pinta led a campaign to remove another educator over his social media posts. In 2020, she pressured Stevenson High School to act against Public Information Coordinator Jim Conrey, calling his online comments “disgusting.” Conrey ultimately retired after Pinta’s activism.
Parents argue that Pinta’s behavior goes well beyond personal opinion. They point to the Illinois Educator Code of Ethics, which calls on teachers to uphold integrity, respect and professionalism both inside and outside the classroom. By any measure, they say, her public remarks violate those standards.
Her past social media activity includes claims that “America is going to sleepwalk right into its own funeral” and accusations that President Trump “r*ped underage girls” – a reckless statement critics say is defamatory and possibly actionable in court.
She has labeled patriotic community organizations “hate groups” and regularly disparages conservatives online.
Several parents have already pulled their children from her class this week, unwilling to expose them to an educator who ridicules conservatives and mocks the dead. Others are pressing administrators to take formal disciplinary action.
The outrage in Buffalo Grove is not without precedent. In 2020, a Palatine social studies teacher was fired after posting inflammatory comments about the George Floyd protests. That teacher challenged the firing in court, but the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the district’s decision, ruling that a school’s interest in maintaining order outweighed the teacher’s speech rights.
Parents argue the same standard should apply here. “If a teacher in Palatine could be fired for Facebook posts about George Floyd, then why is a teacher in Buffalo Grove untouchable when she mocks the assassination of a conservative leader?” one parent who wished to be anonymous, asked.
So far, District 96 has refused to address the controversy publicly. Parents report seeing boxes in Pinta’s classroom, but it remains unclear whether she is resigning, being removed or simply packing materials. Staff members, speaking anonymously, said they are deeply upset by her conduct but fear retaliation if they speak out.
The silence has only fueled parents’ frustration. They see the administration protecting a politically aligned teacher rather than protecting children.
The parents’ exclusive letter to the White House underscores how serious the situation has become. They argue that this is not just a local issue but part of a national pattern: educators and even military members using their platforms to cheer conservative deaths, disparage traditional values and indoctrinate young Americans.
Illinois taxpayers are funding schools that permit educators to openly demean their own students’ values. Children are caught in an ideological war waged by adults who should know better. Instead of teaching reading, writing and math, some teachers are pushing politics, mocking faith and undermining families.
As national attention intensifies, the school has yet to make any public comment on the matter.
