A routine math class at Land O' Lakes High School has exploded into a political flashpoint, with a teacher now facing possible state sanctions after Florida's education commissioner says she told students that "Trump deserves a bullet through the head" during class last October. Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas has filed an administrative complaint and says he found probable cause to pursue sanctions that could put the teacher's Florida teaching certificate on the line.
According to ClickOrlando, the teacher is identified as Mary Hazel Washburn, and the remark allegedly came in the middle of a mathematics lesson in October 2025. Kamoutsas' filing, the outlet reports, claims Washburn violated provisions of state law and the Florida Administrative Code and asks that she face disciplinary action.
A teacher in Pasco County injected extremist political rhetoric into her mathematics classroom, taking advantage of her position of trust by telling students that 'Trump deserves a bullet through the head.' I have found probable cause to pursue sanctions against her teaching certificate and will take every available step to ensure she never teaches again. Teachers are entrusted with shaping young minds and must foster civil discourse.
— Anastasios Kamoutsas (@StasiKamoutsas) June 19, 2026
What The Complaint Says
The Department of Education's Office of Professional Practices handles investigations into certified educators. Once that office finds probable cause, the case shifts into an administrative process that can end with penalties such as suspension or revocation of an educator's certificate. The process follows Florida's Administrative Procedures Act and is handled by the Education Practices Commission, not the criminal courts, according to the Florida Department of Education.
Commissioner Has Pushed Similar Cases
Kamoutsas has already signaled that he is willing to come down hard on classroom speech. WUSF reported in February that he warned teachers they could be fired for expressing anti-law-enforcement views, and that other recent complaints have put educators across Florida under closer scrutiny. WUSF described the pattern as part of a broader push to police what gets said in front of students.
What Happens Next For The Teacher
Once probable cause is found, the Office of Professional Practices or the commissioner can send the case to the Education Practices Commission for a formal decision. At that point, an educator can surrender a certificate, work out a settlement, or request a full hearing before an administrative law judge, the department explains. It all unfolds in the administrative arena, meaning that any potential criminal allegations would be handled separately by law enforcement.
Legal Mechanics Behind The Case
Florida law in Chapter 1012 sets out how complaints against educators move from investigation to possible discipline. The Education Practices Commission has authority to impose penalties that include suspending or revoking a teaching certificate. The relevant Florida Statutes spell out the complaint process, hearing procedures, and how final orders are issued.
Initial reporting is based on the commissioner's public statement and local coverage of the case; see ClickOrlando and WKRC for details on the filing and timeline. This story will be updated as the department or school district releases documents or sets a hearing date.
