Lake County Gazette

Cristina Monroy, Administrative Assistant to the Principal at Grass Lake School in Antioch, has sparked controversy after posting on Facebook that she had “absolutely no empathy” for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on Sept. 10.  

Her post, which described Kirk as “a racist, xenophobic, transphobic, islamophobic, sexist, white nationalist mouthpiece who made millions of dollars inciting hatred in this country,” has prompted calls for her immediate termination.

Grass Lake School District 36 Superintendent Dr. William Newby said action has been taken and that an investigation is still ongoing. 

Cristina Monroy, a Grass Lake School staffer, faces backlash after posting she had “no empathy” for assassinated activist Charlie Kirk. Parents are calling for her removal. | LinkedIn / Cristina Monroy

“I can't say what discipline I'm giving out [due] to confidential private information,” Newby told the Lake County Gazette. “But I'm going to tell you that we have taken action already and that we are going to continue to investigate because the investigation is not over.”  

Grass Lake School District 36’s social media policy includes provisions for “Professional and Appropriate Conduct” and includes a “Code of Professional Conduct” applicable on social media “at all times.” 

“It can be just like if a student does something off of school and it affects school, same thing here, if it affects a school, then yes, then it can bleed over into district board policy,” Newby said.

The controversy came one day after Turning Point USA's  co-founder and CEO was fatally shot during a university event in Utah. 

Kirk, an Arlington native who was born and raised just over 30 miles to the south of Grass Lakes School, was an unofficial advisor to President Donald Trump and a prominent media figure with his podcast "The Charlie Kirk Show." 

Newby emphasized that the emotional impact of the tragedy has deeply affected the entire school community, prompting both reflection and a collective desire to respond appropriately.

“From the beginning, the amount of sadness for a family that has to deal with this is tremendous,” Newby said. “That is, by and large, what the Grass Lake community is feeling now. This situation may be bringing a different light, but the reality is that the entire Grass Lake community, including parents, staff, and students, is suffering. It's a tragedy, almost beyond imagination, because it involves someone many people here knew personally.”

He continued by acknowledging the broader significance of the moment for the school community.

“We are mourning with the families and the people affected,” he said. “This is a tragedy, and we're all trying to figure out how to address it. I want to make clear that this is not the norm. This is an anomaly.”

Amid community grief and heightened tensions, Newby emphasized the district’s commitment to compassion and unity in the face of tragedy.

“It's a tough, tough situation for us,” he said. “What we want is what's best for our students, for the community, for Charlie Kirk's family. We want the best for them. We don't want to detract from that; we want to add love to that.”

In a letter to families and community members, Newby acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, stating, “the language and tone of the post were insensitive and do not reflect the values of Grass Lake School District 36.” 

He urged the community to remain calm and avoid divisive language.

“We are all role models for our children. They are watching and learning from how we handle disagreement and conflict,” Newby wrote.  

Monroy’s social media post quickly sparked outrage among Antioch parents and community members, who saw her post as a celebration of political violence, with one parent stating, “an assassination is not a political talking point. It’s murder.”

Michael Scornavacco, Republican Committeeman for Antioch 6, called for swift disciplinary action in an op-ed published by the Lake County Gazette.

“A clear message must be sent: celebrating political violence is incompatible with working in our schools. As a father and community leader, I am calling for Cristina Monroy’s immediate termination.”

Illinois political leaders mourned Kirk’s death as a grave attack on free speech and condemned the rising tide of political violence. 

Kirk launched Turning Point USA from a garage in Lemont, Illinois, at age 18. The organization grew into a national conservative powerhouse. By 2025, Turning Point USA had more than 3,500 high school and college chapters, including at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Illinois State University. The group reported a $92 million annual budget and support from national donors.

President Trump ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in Kirk’s honor.

“No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie,” Trump said on Truth Social. 

Kirk is survived by his wife Erika and their two young children.