Kansas employee who called Charlie Kirk's death 'deserved' ousted from state job

Matthew Kelly, The Kansas City Star on Sep 16, 2025

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The Kansas school board member who commented online that the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk was “well-deserved” is no longer an employee of the Kansas State Department of Education.

Katie Allen, previously a KSDE research analyst, has parted ways with the agency, as The Mercury in Manhattan first reported on Monday.

“I can confirm that Katie Allen is no longer an employee at KSDE. We won’t be providing any additional comment,” agency spokesperson Denie Kahler said in an email to The Star.

Allen, who was elected to the Manhattan-Ogden school board in 2023, previously apologized for the remark posted in the aftermath of last Wednesday’s attack, when 31-year-old Kirk was gunned down while speaking outside at Utah Valley University.

“For anyone who was offended by my words, I deeply apologize. That is not who I am or what I believe — which is why I deleted that comment so fast,” Allen said in an earlier statement to The Mercury.

Allen did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

Two prominent Kansas Republicans vying for next year’s GOP gubernatorial nomination took victory laps on social media late Monday after news broke that Allen had left KSDE.

“Nobody who celebrates political violence should shape our kids’ education. Thanks to swift action, she’s out at KSDE,” Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, posted to X after forcefully calling for Allen to resign or be fired.

“We’re not done,” Masterson continued. “She must step down from the school board, too. I’m committed to protecting Kansas values and ensuring our schools are led by those who respect all voices.”

Former Gov. Jeff Colyer called Allen losing her job “the right outcome” in his own post.

“Taxpayer-funded positions cannot be a platform for celebrating terrorism and political violence. But Kansas can’t stop here,” Colyer said. “It’s time for a full legislative review of hiring policies and practices across our public-education system to ensure standards of professionalism and respect are upheld.”

Because Allen was elected to the Manhattan-Ogden school board, she cannot be fired. Unless she chooses to resign, any effort to oust her would require a recall election in Riley County.

Law enforcement officials announced Friday that they had arrested a suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, ending a 33-hour manhunt after the shooting. Robinson, who lived in Utah, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm and obstruction of justice. He’s being held without bail, and state authorities have indicated they intend to pursue the death penalty.

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