A Kentucky school board chairman resigned after a past social media post calling to "shoot Republicans" resurfaced.

Community Backlash Forces Resignation of School Board Chair

Jeffrey Miller, chairman of the Erlanger-Elsmere Independent School District in Kentucky since 2016, resigned Thursday after a social media post from 2018 emerged in which he allegedly called to "shoot Republicans." The post, written in reaction to a mass shooting in Jacksonville, Florida, read: "i'd be ok with the NRA if these psychos were just once the victims of a mass shooting. WINK WINK: please shoot republicans."

The controversy resurfaced this spring after Republican state representative Steven Doan began receiving complaints from constituents. What started as a local discussion about reopening a high school track quickly evolved as community members expressed fear of retaliation if they publicly opposed Miller. "They said that they wanted to publicly support me and my position, but they feared retaliation," Doan explained. One constituent wrote to Doan, raising concerns that speaking out could impact their child’s graduation and that public officials should be held to higher standards, especially when responsible for children’s well-being.

Doan responded by writing an op-ed in June, urging Miller’s resignation over what he termed "political violence." Following this, community members reported more troubling comments and the local County Clerk’s office received inquiries about the resignation process. Pressure mounted until Miller officially resigned, prompting Doan to thank the community, writing on X, "It took the entire community to remove this man, now we must find a replacement who will stand up for our children and community."

District Seeks New Board Member After Apology and Public Outcry

Following the resignation, newly-elected chairperson Sara Shackelford-Ross and vice chair Rachel B. Retherford declined to comment on the social media post. The district, serving nearly 2,400 students across eight schools, began the process of publicly posting the board vacancy for two weeks and accepting applications. Retherford confirmed that the remaining members will vote to appoint a new board member within 60 days.

According to the Cincinnati Inquirer, Miller had previously apologized for the comments. However, community members expressed that the incident had not received sufficient attention in the past and that leadership in schools should be held to the highest ethical standards, given their influence over children. The resignation marks a broader discussion on accountability for public officials, especially those in positions of authority over young people.

As the district moves forward with selecting a new board member, local parents and lawmakers emphasize the importance of restoring trust and ensuring that educational leaders model respectful and responsible conduct in all public communications.