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Some parents in the Westhampton Beach School District are calling for the dismissal of high school music teacher Laura Mara after she was accused of making insensitive comments on TikTok following the death of Charlie Kirk.
A video circulating on social media, which has not been verified by News 12, shows Mara saying, “I’m actually not comparing tragedies; I’m comparing how people respond to tragedies.”
Critics of the teacher argue the post was biased and inappropriate.
Parent Wendy Fisher said she found the content disturbing. “I think it was hateful rhetoric and showing bias against certain groups of students,” she said.
Fisher added that she was troubled by not only that video, but others as well. She noted that about 30 people attended a school board meeting this week calling for Mara to be let go.
News 12 spoke with more than a dozen parents outside the school, most of whom wanted the teacher fired but declined to go on camera, citing fear of repercussions.
Others, however, defended Mara, saying the videos were not offensive and that she has never expressed personal opinions in the classroom.
“That’s not Democrat Party or Republican Party, I just believe people have the right to say what they want to say," said one parent.
Still, some parents felt posting political opinions publicly crossed a line.
“She is free to have opinions, what is not OK is to post them to a public platform that is accessible to the children that you teach,” one parent said.
The Westhampton Beach School District released a statement acknowledging the situation: “The district is aware of the matter being referenced; however, we are unable to discuss this as it is a matter of personnel.”
According to the district’s website, Mara was hired in 2024 and remains employed at Westhampton Beach High School.
