A disturbing case out of Alachua County, Florida, has exposed just how toxic the education system has become for conservative families.
A high school history teacher at Gainesville High School nominated her own student for “Most Likely to Become a Dictator,” all because he dared to hold conservative views and was interested in ROTC and World War II history, Florida’s Voice first reported.
The incident came to light after parent Dr. Crystal Marull testified at a State Board of Education meeting that her 16-year-old son was repeatedly targeted by his history teacher because of his conservative views and interest in ROTC.
According to Marull, the teacher allowed classmates to brand her son a “Naziphile” for his interest in World War II history. Later, she orchestrated a mock award, forcing students to vote him “Most Likely to Become a Dictator.”
Marull: “My son, six years old, was prohibited from sitting next to his friend on the school bus because a parent objected to my perspectives on book challenges. My older son’s history teacher allowed students to label him a Naziphile simply for his interest in history and participation in ROTC.
She later nominated my son as the most likely to become a dictator and had his classmates vote on it and try to force him to the front of the class to receive the certificate, which he rightly refused, all because of his conservative values and our perspectives.”
WATCH:
BREAKING: A student in Florida was nominated by his own teacher as “Most Likely to Become a Dictator” because he was a conservative, a parent just revealed.
The teacher allowed students to label him a “N@ziphile” because he was interested in WW2 history and ROTC.
They… pic.twitter.com/giiXqW4iIl
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) August 20, 2025
The teacher herself admitted the superlative was handed out, emailing Marull in May 2023 with a half-hearted apology, according to the email obtained by Florida’s Voice.
“Good Afternoon Mrs. Marull,
I do apologize that (name redacted) was offended by the Class Superlative. Class Superlatives are an activity I have been doing with all my classes for the last four years. I give students the option to change or add superlatives to the list from previous years and then the class nominates students and votes on the winner. I was not aware that (name redacted) was upset that he was nominated for that superlative a few weeks ago. To my knowledge, he did not ask to be removed when he was nominated or when the class voted.
When I passed them out today, I reiterated that they were just for fun. These were not meant to be offensive. I do apologize.”
Marull fired back:
“Earlier in the year you allowed the class to refer to him as a Hitlerphile and now you are letting them label him a dictator. Not only that but you orchestrated it, signed off on it, and promoted it. It’s truly reprehensible.”
Marull revealed that she had reported the incident to the district in May 2023, and school officials did nothing.
Alachua County Schools confirmed the teacher has been placed on administrative leave after the August 20 State Board of Education meeting, but refused to release further information, citing confidentiality laws.
Now, it is being reported that the teacher has been suspended and now faces possible termination.
Florida’s Voice reported:
The Florida teacher who nominated a student for a “Most Likely to Become A Dictator” superlative has been suspended amid an investigation into the incident, with the Department of Education finding probable cause to pursue sanctions against her educator certificate.
On Thursday afternoon, the Department of Education confirmed to Florida’s Voice that Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas sent a letter to the teacher, explaining the possible statute violations and penalties. She will now appear before the Education Practices Commission who will impose a possible sanction, the department confirmed.
On Thursday, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has called for the potential firing and revocation of the teaching certificate of a Gainesville High School teacher who awarded a conservative student the superlative “Most Likely to Become a Dictator.”
If these facts bear out, then this teacher should be immediately terminated and never allowed to teach again in Florida.
Parents and students in Alachua deserve better.
My letter to the Alachua County Superintendent and School Board: https://t.co/mt9e0SRHVW pic.twitter.com/cDN1dVraOF
— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) August 21, 2025