A teacher has filed a federal lawsuit against the Lee County schools superintendent, claiming his constitutional rights were violated when he was suspended and reassigned after posting a political comment on Facebook in September.According to the complaint filed Friday in U.S. District Court, Morgan Wright alleges that Lee County Superintendent Denise Carlin retaliated against him for exercising his First and 14th Amendment rights.The lawsuit stems from a comment Wright made on a post from his private Facebook page, which he says only his friends could see, following the death of political activist Charlie Kirk.Wright also ran against Carlin in the 2025 election for superintendent. He was working as a physical education teacher at Diplomat Elementary School at the time of the Facebook comment when he commented critically on Kirk’s past remarks about gun violence.In response, the district suspended Wright without pay for 10 days and reassigned him to a special education position at a different school nearly 20 miles away, the complaint said.The post, which referenced gun rights and school shootings, was intended as political commentary and not a threat, according to the filing.Wright argues the district’s actions were based solely on the content and viewpoint of his speech and were not prompted by any classroom disruption or official misconduct.Mariner Elementary School Principal David Sanon acknowledged in a statement included in the lawsuit that the post comment caused minimal disturbance at the school, noting that operations continued normally aside from media attention and one community call posing as a parent.Sanon also said, “Coach Wright informed me that he made a comment on a post on social media and was receiving pushback from someone regarding the post he made. He was giving me the heads up about the differences of opinions taking place.”Wright is seeking a court order to return him to his original position and prevent further discipline for the comment. He is also asking for compensatory damages, attorney’s fees and a declaration that the district’s response to his private political speech was unconstitutional.The lawsuit also alleges that Carlin’s actions were intended to deter other employees from expressing similar viewpoints.For years, Wright also competed nationally on “American Ninja Warrior” as Morgan “Moose” Wright, before suffering a heart attack in 2022.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

A teacher has filed a federal lawsuit against the Lee County schools superintendent, claiming his constitutional rights were violated when he was suspended and reassigned after posting a political comment on Facebook in September.

According to the complaint filed Friday in U.S. District Court, Morgan Wright alleges that Lee County Superintendent Denise Carlin retaliated against him for exercising his First and 14th Amendment rights.

The lawsuit stems from a comment Wright made on a post from his private Facebook page, which he says only his friends could see, following the death of political activist Charlie Kirk.

Wright also ran against Carlin in the 2025 election for superintendent. He was working as a physical education teacher at Diplomat Elementary School at the time of the Facebook comment when he commented critically on Kirk’s past remarks about gun violence.

In response, the district suspended Wright without pay for 10 days and reassigned him to a special education position at a different school nearly 20 miles away, the complaint said.

The post, which referenced gun rights and school shootings, was intended as political commentary and not a threat, according to the filing.

Wright argues the district’s actions were based solely on the content and viewpoint of his speech and were not prompted by any classroom disruption or official misconduct.

Mariner Elementary School Principal David Sanon acknowledged in a statement included in the lawsuit that the post comment caused minimal disturbance at the school, noting that operations continued normally aside from media attention and one community call posing as a parent.

Sanon also said, “Coach Wright informed me that he made a comment on a post on social media and was receiving pushback from someone regarding the post he made. He was giving me the heads up about the differences of opinions taking place.”

Wright is seeking a court order to return him to his original position and prevent further discipline for the comment.

He is also asking for compensatory damages, attorney’s fees and a declaration that the district’s response to his private political speech was unconstitutional.

The lawsuit also alleges that Carlin’s actions were intended to deter other employees from expressing similar viewpoints.

For years, Wright also competed nationally on “American Ninja Warrior” as Morgan “Moose” Wright, before suffering a heart attack in 2022.

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.