I’m not a political firebrand. I’m not a social media influencer or a headline chaser. I’m a teacher, and a humble one at that.
Most of my friends are retired. Their biggest concern most weeks is whether to go fishing at the lake or on the coast. That’s not me. I still get up before sunrise, drive to Horizon High School and step into a classroom full of young people who remind me every day why I chose this profession. I teach because I love to teach. And I love to teach because of my students.
I never imagined I’d find myself at the center of a national story for hanging a simple poster on my classroom wall, one that featured a quote from Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk: “Never underestimate the power of your voice and the impact you can have on the world when you speak up for what you believe in.”
To me, that message embodies something beautiful about education, that every student, regardless of background or belief, has a voice worth hearing. It’s a reminder that our democracy depends on young people learning how to think for themselves, speak respectfully and stand firm in their convictions.
But the district saw it differently. I was told the poster violated the school board’s policy on political activities. I complied immediately and took it down. What followed, however, was a wave of frustration and reflection, not because of the poster itself, but because of what this moment revealed about the state of free expression in our public schools.
I don’t talk about politics in my classroom. I never tell students which candidate to vote for or which ideology to follow. My job, and I take it seriously, is to help them become critical thinkers, good citizens and successful adults. I teach law, which means we spend a lot of time exploring the Constitution, the First Amendment, and the precious individual rights that define this country.
How can I teach those principles with integrity if I’m not willing to live by them myself? If I back down when it’s my turn to stand up, what message does that send to my students about their own right to speak up when it matters most?
This has never been about me. It’s about my students, and the next generation of Americans who will inherit a nation that is deeply divided and in desperate need of unity, courage, and principle.
I believe the young people in my classroom are capable of extraordinary things. They are thoughtful, compassionate, and curious. They ask hard questions. They challenge assumptions. And they care deeply about this country, even when they see its flaws. That gives me hope.
That’s why I’m standing firm, not out of defiance, but out of devotion. If we silence educators who encourage students to think independently, we risk raising a generation afraid to question authority, afraid to speak truth, and afraid to disagree respectfully. That would be a tragedy for our democracy.
So yes, I share many of the same values that Charlie Kirk promotes, but this isn’t about politics or personality. It’s about principle. One of the values I share most deeply is what he expresses in the quote: “Never underestimate the power of your voice and the impact you can have on the world when you speak up for what you believe in.”
That’s a message every young person, regardless of ideology, deserves to hear.
As long as God is willing, I will keep teaching. I will keep showing up for my students. And I will keep defending their right, and mine, to speak freely, think critically, and live courageously. Because if we stop standing up for those values now, there may not be anyone left to stand up for them later.
William Loggans is a high school law and economics teacher at Horizon High School in Winter Garden.
