Marull: Allegations that student wanted to be a dictator result from former friend’s confusion between ‘diplomat’ and ‘dictator’
Letter to the editor
Dear Editor,
I am writing to clarify recent developments in the 2023 Gainesville High School incident, where my son was nominated by his history teacher for the “Most Likely to Become a Dictator” award. I reported it to the principal and school board then, but no action occurred until my August 20, 2025 statements at the Florida State Board of Education meeting prompted an investigation validating my claims of mistreatment and inappropriate classroom behavior.
Following these incidents, the backlash and retaliation attacking my child in this situation are not only reprehensible but defamatory and slanderous, including escalations in intensity and tone with veiled death threats via suggestions of school shootings. We have reported these to local law enforcement and will continue to monitor the situation.
The claims that my son wanted to be a dictator stem from the ignorance, naivety, or maliciousness of an ex-girlfriend from a brief, month-long relationship, who confuses “diplomat” with “dictator.” She posted a screenshot of text messages on her public Instagram (see below) as “evidence,” but they clearly show him expressing interest in becoming a U.S. diplomat, including potential assignments in challenging countries like Afghanistan — not extremist views or the other negative claims she is spreading online.
To clarify the record, here is a statement from my son:
“A series of social media posts by a fellow student confused my dreams of becoming a U.S. Diplomat for a Dictator — two words that both begin with ‘D’ that have very different meanings. Because of this, I’ve come under attack by a mob of current and former students of Gainesville High School.
“If the difference between ‘diplomat’ and ‘dictator’ is not understood by high school, it reveals a deeper crisis in civic education and another sign of failure of Alachua’s public schools.”
The same student has also been spreading harmful accusations, labeling my son an antisemitic Hitler fanatic — claims that could not be further from the truth, given his extensive record of pro-Israeli and pro-Jewish activism. This includes repeated attendance at events at the UF Chabad House (such as two speeches by Holocaust survivors and one presentation by a survivor of the October 7 terrorist attack), a letter defending Israel to the mayor after the October 7 attack, frequent visits to the UF Judaica Suite, participation in pro-Israel protests, a visit to concentration camps in Eastern Europe, and continual online promotion of Judaism through his social media accounts.
These troubling events, amplified by relentless online attacks, public defamation, and bullying through false allegations, expose the toxic undercurrents of ideological harassment in our schools and demands immediate, uncompromising accountability from educators, administrators, and policymakers to safeguard every student — regardless of political views — from such vicious tactics, ensuring an education system that upholds free expression and civility for all.
Sincerely,
Crystal Marull
Gainesville, Florida
The opinions expressed by letter or opinion writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AlachuaChronicle.com. Assertions of facts in letters are similarly the responsibility of the author. Letters may be submitted to info@alachuachronicle.com and are published at the discretion of the editor.
Wow, that is bad when a History teacher and students cannot tell the difference between “Dictator” and “Diplomat”. That’s both embarrassing and completely expected from a district this intent on culture wars instead of education. Try education vs. indoctrination. Wow that’s so foolish sorry to the Marull family, I promise you other areas are more educated and do understand.
Meanwhile the ex-girlfriend in question has “Free Palestine” written at the top of her Facebook bio.
There is nothing wrong with those who do not support the nation state of Israel. I will always protest killing innocents!
I’m tried of people conflating the nation state of Israel with the biblical Israel.
As a Christian these folks disgust me. Israel is not a piece of land…read your Bible!!!
Apparently you need to read the Bible a little more in depth, Romans 9-11 explains that in the future all Israel that comes to believe in Jesus as their Messiah will be redeemed. Israel is a land as it was stated since the beginning. Have you ever been to the Middle East? I have and the whole conflict between Palestinians and Israelis stems from the time of Ishmael and Isaac. Hamas is great at brain washing you and those who think they are the victims! God says: those who bless Israel I will bless, those who curse will be cursed!
Whatever career path your son chooses, hopefully he’ll be successful.
The young lady who wishes to be an FBI agent, my guess is she doesn’t understand the screening processes she’ll be exposed to – especially if it’s a conservative administration in place. She’s likely unable to distinguish the difference between commitment and inconstancy as well.
Somehow I don’t think your son lost out on the break-up.
How did his history teacher even know about this exchange?
I don’t know if she did.
She did know of our conservative values and our offense at having my son labeled as a “Nazi empathizer” and recipient of the “most likely to become a dictator award.”
The fact that post-facto, the mob has been trying to justify his abuse by saying that he had been walking around saying he wanted to be a “dictator” when, in fact, he had been saying “diplomat” is reprehensible and victim-blaming.
For the adults who are participating and encouraging this cyber-bullying, it is absolutely unacceptable and may result in legal consequences.
No excuse for a teacher displaying this type of behavior, regardless!
Well written. Your son is a real mensch! So proud of him for standing up to this vile slander and staying true to his values. He comes from a good home.
Alachua County is starting to stink of Cuba.
Ron DeCastro you mean?
So this happened in 2023? Why the delay?
It was brought up at the time to the teacher, the principal, and the school board. It was a culminating event to a series of incidents throughout the year. The teacher offered a hollow apology and no one else responded to my concerns. It was brought up in the recent State Board of Education meeting as an anecdote of how the school board fails to offer support to conservative families. The DOE decided to act.
My sentiment exactly!
And so what is wrong with aspiring to be a dictator? I’ve wanted to be one all my life. Think Big and follow your dreams! What is the kid supposed to dream about – working at Starbucks? Diplomat is good to, but personally I’d rather be dictator. Or, at least King of the World, or even just Emperor of Florida.
I’m sorry you, your son, and family have to endure this. It’s very unfortunate when Gainesville is supposedly an open and welcoming community for all (lol). I’m very disappointed with our local and state leadership. Too many school board members pass judgement without knowing all of the facts. Why did they just dismiss your concerns? Same for the state leadership, how could the state doe decide that the appropriate measure is to revoke the teachers certificate? Your letter demonstrates there is much more to this story than has been revealed. Leaders should not pass judgement without knowing all of the facts less they look incompetent. There are far too many failures in this case as there are in so many others. How many thousands more of these situations are there? How many more budget errors, lack of support for teachers, under utilized buildings, key staff turnover, teacher and bus driver shortages, etc. must we as a community endure? Maybe we need a real Superintendent to lead the lost board members and establish some solid standards about academics, conduct, and professionalism, in other words focus on the really important things. I know I ask a lot.
NO you do NOT ask a lot—of course I realize you are only pointing out what should have already been in place! AND I have been shocked, disappointed, & totally dismayed over this school system. It is a sad situation for all. Before 2012, I would have never believed some of the first hand stories I’ve heard about this county’s schools. DeSantis needs to send in his DOGE group.
Thank God they broke up now, not later when most immature couples decide to.
Deport em!
As a retired teacher and administrator from two other states, I am appalled by the unprofessional behavior going on at ACPS. I’ve been to a total of three school board meetings and every single one was a circus. I’ve heard numerous stories like this one, of the absolute abuse of a child. I have learned as both a parent and in my professional career that nice parents finish last. You absolutely must stand up against the rot we are seeing far too often. Your own child might be able to weather the storm, but how about the underdog? It is OUR responsibility as a community to call out this disgusting treatment of our children and not allow it to go without consequences. Feeling the wrath is the only way that I have seen such gross negligence corrected. Kudos to this mom for speaking up for ALL the students and prayers for her son and the others who she most clearly harmed.
Wow, teachers and their students. Morons of America. Who knew?
Ms Marull, I understand your passion to protect your son, but until we fully hear – and we probably won’t and shouldn’t – the teacher’s and other students side of this, wouldn’t it be best to either let it rest or keep it within the SB and Dept of Education disciplinary apparatus? If this happened 2 years ago, one hopes your son has moved on, as well as the other students who you have now accused of being unfair and thus dragged into a public spat which may make state, if not national news. At that, your example with the text was not convincing in either way, and one assumes you published it because you thought it your strongest evidence.
Keep your complaint with the teacher going if that’s what you wish, but keep it there, not in rehashing old and creating new social media controversies damaging to young people just starting their adult lives – including your son.
Jazz,
Meanwhile both children and adults are saying vile things about her minor child to justify the award and the teacher’s (in)action. They’ve called him pro-hitler, antisemitic, racist, etc. It’s grotesque. There is no concrete evidence that he is any of these things. But the kids said it, so it must be true?
You mentioned hearing the teacher’s and other students’ sides of this, but neglected to mention her son’s perspective. Her son, I conject, is the victim here
Supporters of the teacher have pulled out screenshots of old social media to try to prove he is those vile things and that he wanted to be a dictator . So far, the only thing they’ve proved to me is that he is a MAGA kid interested in history.
While MAGA is not my cuppa, neither is bullying a child.
Parent, I am not advocating further bullying of anyone, but instead not publicly stirring what is already an old pot involving kids. If the teacher is guilty of the allegation she should disciplined and that process is ongoing, but there is no official process – thankfully – for disciplining kids for saying stupid things on social media, except from their parents.
She finally had a venue which would publicly show Alachua County parents that this actually happens. There may have been other parents in this situation who have not had this opportunity and fear retribution for their child. The ACSB has been ineffective for years. They spend far more time defending themselves than helping students. I’m still careening from the salary paid to the acting superintendent.
Before the dust settles, I believe the state is going to step in and examine the disciple policies in the Alachua County School System.
“We need equitable distribution of suspensions and expulsions, not equal suspensions and expulsions for ALL of those committing the infractions.” Don’t think the State is going to agree.
So many people want to claim the teacher’s actions were justified because other students claim the student made statements about wanting to be a dictator.
Ok, fine. Imagine if a teacher mocked a student for being gay and the student was openly gay and wore Pride shirts and posted rainbows on his social media. Would that be okay? Of course not.
Anybody trying to deflect to the student’s statements/behavior has an obvious agenda to divert the conversation from a discussion about the ethical responsibilities of teachers to the destruction of a minor’s reputation.
If you’re on the side of people who think it’s fine for a teacher to mock a student – for any reason – don’t be surprised if it happens to your own child in the future.
The most logical comment I’ve seen so far. We need to consider the big picture without the politically charged details. 1. Teacher with a professional responsibility to protect all students 2. Student and minor 3. Policy violation… then let the facts decide… whether the award was Most Likely to be a Dictator or Most Likely to be LGBTQ+, neither is an appropriate award to ‘present’ in any classroom. Protect the kids and hold the professional responsible with policy violation, including whatever prescribed consequence is listed. My vote would be written warning and additional training around the policy and handing ‘diverse’ populations… and probably transfer out of her current school. We need to keep the same energy for all kids even when the surrounding politics don’t meet ours.
Crystal, you are a rock star. Please know that you have supporters! ACPS is a disaster.
Uh, like the supposed SBAC 1st amendment violation hearing – no one here has been able to tell me who’s 1st amendment rights were violated and I have asked directly and numerous times – the result for most here on this issue is pre-baked and based on politics, not necessarily facts.
There is another side to this story which may or may not be valid or convincing but it does not have an adult advocate as well spoken and dedicated as Ms Carull – who also has a listening GOP board and establishment who love this kind of story – and is therefore not being taken seriously. There was a demonstration at GHS yesterday in support of the teacher by about 75 students who apparently acted based on their feelings toward her. That is not a small thing, nor was a statement to TV 20 by another student that the “dictator” award was given out another year and implying it was meant as a joke, not a political attack. Other supposed students on twitter said the same thing and that the “joke” nomination was made by students, not the teacher, and Ms Carull’s son accepted the award without complaint and possibly as a joke.
Let’s give this a rest, quit slandering kids – including Ms Carull’s son and other students who she refers to as “the mob” on X – and hope against hope that the board’s investigation will be fairly run. Given the uproar and political hay to be made – Ms Carull on an X tweet said her son would be “honored” to meet the Governor, thus calling into question how much she is protecting him from unwanted attention vs promoting him as a political hero – that is as unlikely as a fair hearing was by the kangaroo court run by the partisan Board of Education on the 1st amendment BS.
https://www.wcjb.com/2025/08/25/students-walk-out-support-gainesville-high-school-teacher-accused-bullying/
PS Reading the letter to the ACSB by Florida’s AG – and part of the $10 million mystery donation to Florida’s 1st lady’s charity which then went to a political campaign – he starts by saying “If these facts bear out…” – referring to Ms Carull’s accusation – but then drops the fairness pretense and calls for the teacher to be fired, her teaching cetificate to be terminated, her crops burnt, cattle slaughtered and her fields poisoned – the last 3 are a joke. This is the kind of “investigation” we can expect, which is to say another kangaroo court for partisan interests. By the way, he ends the letter with the now required but superfluous trashing of other states – NY and California – by our state officials. This is not what honorable leaders of all their citizens do, it’s what political hacks selling BS do, this case hopefully to be treated fairly.
https://x.com/AGJamesUthmeier/status/1958555535600415080/photo/1
Meanwhile, the Kangaroo in Chief in the last ACSB Inquisition, the Sec of Education for the state, has filed a legal “complaint” against the teacher based on the “investigation” – there has been no investigation, only Miss Carull’s testimony at the previous Inquisition – and calling for her firing and loss of teaching certification.
This is not a proceeding interested in the truth – and it may be Ms Carull has accurately described everything and the teacher should be fired – but another lynch party by the entire state of Florida GOP without a trial. They love this and easy to see why, but one hopes our elected leaders practice some modicum of decorum, honor, dignity, and fairness to all Floridians and cut the petty fighting with other states in our nation.
Nah, what was I thinking!