Judge Recommends Dismissing Certification Charges Against Duval Teacher

Overview

• An administrative law judge recommended that the Education Practices Commission drop the state’s certification charges against Hope McMath, issuing the finding Tuesday that the state offered no competent, substantial evidence her posts impaired her service.
• The formal allegations the judge recommended dismissing included gross immorality and violations of professional‑conduct rules that the state said showed a condition harmful to student learning.
• McMath has not returned to classroom duties and her Duval County Public Schools contract was not renewed over the summer, so the judge’s recommendation does not automatically reinstate her employment.
• McMath has an active federal lawsuit against the school district, the Florida Department of Education, and Moms for Liberty’s Duval chapter alleging retaliation and viewpoint discrimination, and her attorney says the administrative ruling strengthens efforts to return her to teaching.
• The case follows a statewide push by education officials to police teacher social media after Charlie Kirk’s killing and sits alongside other pending teacher challenges and a prior state settlement that together highlight legal and policy risks for discipline of off‑duty speech.