A Chula Vista, California, high school teacher, identified as Bradley McCormick, allegedly showed students a video of Charlie Kirk’s assassination in class this month and commented, “Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.” The incident occurred in a senior AP government class at Chula Vista Learning Community Charter School (CVLCC).
Students reported that McCormick played the video not long after Kirk was shot and killed. Audio obtained by IW Features captures a voice identified as McCormick addressing the class, where he is heard saying, “Play stupid games, win stupid prizes, sorry.” Parents who reviewed the recording said they were alarmed by what their children were shown and disturbed that such remarks were made in a classroom setting.
Students in McCormick’s AP government class were preparing for advanced placement exams when the incident occurred. Parents said the disruption has affected both the classroom environment and their children’s focus on academic preparation. Some students were reportedly unsettled by the content of the video, while others expressed concern about how the incident would reflect on their school.
Following the incident, McCormick was pulled out of class and escorted off campus. Parents said they were notified afterward that the teacher had been disciplined, but some have since raised concerns that McCormick may already have returned to teaching.
CVLCC acknowledged the matter in an email sent to families by Chief Executive Officer Edward Caballero. The message described it as a “personnel-related issue” but did not name McCormick or specify the nature of any disciplinary action. “We can assure you that the matter has been resolved, and the safety and well-being of our learning community remain our utmost priority,” the email stated.
In a separate statement, CVLCC confirmed that McCormick is still employed at the school but said it could not disclose disciplinary details because it is a personnel issue.
“We have confirmed that this is a teacher at Chula Vista Learning Community Charter School. The district cannot discuss the details of the disciplinary actions Chula Vista Learning Community Charter School has taken, as this is a personnel matter. We can further express that the CVLCC employee’s position is not the official position of the school or district,” the school said.
Families with students in McCormick’s AP government class say they want more transparency about what steps the school has taken. One family member told IW Features, “Charlie has ignited a fire in us to stand up for good.”
Another relative added, “By holding the teacher accountable, we have helped generations of students from being in the grasp of such an evil ‘teacher.’”
But the lack of clarity from school officials has fueled questions within the community about how CVLCC handles disciplinary matters. Parents have said they want confirmation about whether McCormick is still teaching students, as well as assurance that safeguards are in place to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
For parents in Chula Vista, the issue is not only the teacher’s use of the graphic video, but also the decision to add commentary that appeared to mock the victim by allegedly saying, “He [Charlie Kirk] can’t carry a gun anymore because he’s dead.”
These families feel the incident exposed their students to political bias in a setting where they expected objective teaching. Others have said the problem is less about politics and more about professionalism and judgment in the classroom.
The controversy comes at a time when schools across the country have faced scrutiny over how teachers address politics, current events, and violence in the classroom. Incidents where educators are accused of crossing boundaries often become flashpoints for broader debates about transparency, accountability, and the role of schools in shaping civic values.
Unfortunately, McCormick isn’t the only educator who allegedly abused his position in the wake of the Kirk assassination. In San Diego County, a viral post alleges that Christine Catanzariti, an occupational therapy specialist with San Diego Unified School District, the second largest school district in the state of California, wrote on Facebook: “At least [Kirk] was taken out humanely by a professional,” going on to call Kirk a bigot who indoctrinated people.
When I reached out to SDUSD for comment, they said: “San Diego Unified does not comment on personnel matters.”
At CVLCC, the immediate question remains McCormick’s employment status. Parents want to know if this incident will be swept under the rug or if the teacher will have to face real consequences.
What is clear is that the incident has heightened scrutiny on CVLCC and raised broader concerns about teacher accountability, school communication, and the handling of sensitive events in the classroom. Parents and students in Chula Vista continue to seek clarity, and the community is waiting to see whether CVLCC will release further information about the outcome of its personnel decision.
