Central Bucks West counselor fired after 'die-in' Facebook post

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (WPVI) -- The Central Bucks School Board has decided to fire the Bucks County guidance counselor who posted a controversial message on Facebook.

A little more than a month ago, 37-year-old Marykate Blankenburg, of Upper Gwynedd, was put on leave after sharing the social media post.

In it the Central Bucks West High School counselor threatened to "personally shoot" protesters staging a "die-in" outside Lincoln Financial Field if they stopped her son from getting to the Eagles game.

She posted the message on December 7th, which read: "If my child cannot get to the Eagles game to due protesters, I will personally SHOOT every one of them. You've been warned idiots."

Blankenburg first told a newspaper she hadn't posted the message - that a child may have done it on her iPad while she was teaching Sunday school. However, later she admitted to detectives she created the post.

The Montgomery County district attorney called the post "ill-advised" but decided the threat didn't rise to the level of a crime.

The Central Bucks School Administration had already recommended that Blankenburg be dismissed.

In Doylestown Tuesday afternoon, people said they think firing her was the only option for the district.

Randi Rankin tells Action News, "I just think, if you're gonna put it out there, you have to think before you put it onto social media - no matter what it is."

"When you take on a job like that, I think you have responsibilities. You can't be saying stuff like that," Susan Whitaker said.

"If you're counseling children, you should be more cautious of what you're posting online, definitely," Charles Minguez said.