Sarah Rockwell, a board member of the Alachua County School Board, District 3, faced backlash for a Facebook comment celebrating the death of legendary wrestler Hulk Hogan.
She talked about Hogan’s death and called one less MAGA, for which she later apologized.
Sarah Rockwell winner of the Miss "high Colestrol 2025"award..congrats!! heres your life time of cheese cakes! pic.twitter.com/xafFIfmTdf
— TC (@ChallengerTATom) July 28, 2025
Dr. Sarah Rockwell is a dedicated educator, disability rights advocate, and mother of two who has devoted her career to ensuring all children.
Her expertise spans early childhood special education, reading disabilities, and autism. She has worked tirelessly in public schools for 20 years, supporting students with diverse needs and backgrounds.
Her journey includes roles as a respite care provider for Autistic children, a substitute teacher in Miami-Dade County’s special education center school, and a teacher in Levy and Marion counties.
She assessed students with disabilities, crafted intervention plans, and trained teachers to support their needs better.
Additionally, she has shaped future educators as a teaching assistant at the University of Florida and as an advising specialist at Santa Fe College.
Beyond the classroom, Dr. Rockwell is deeply engaged in community advocacy.
She serves on the Board of Directors for the First United Methodist Church of Gainesville Preschool. Likewise, she is a member of the leadership team for Education Equity Advocates of Alachua County, as well as an active participant in local PTAs.
Sarah Rockwell Celebrates Hulk Hogan’s Death And Sparks Backlash
Sarah Rockwell has drawn fierce backlash after celebrating the death of wrestling icon Hulk Hogan in a since-deleted social media post.
Oh, did Hulk die? I didn’t even know. Good. One less MAGA in the world.
Sarah Rockwell
In a follow-up comment, she added, “[H]e worked with the McMahons to union bust professional wrestling. [H]e’s never been a good guy. I feel absolutely nothing about his death.“
Len Cabrera reflects on the comments from readers about School Board Chair Sarah Rockwell's Facebook post celebrating Hulk Hogan's death. pic.twitter.com/VCKplr0ry4
— Alachua Chronicle (@AlachuaChronic1) July 26, 2025
The remarks quickly went viral, with many criticizing Rockwell for her harsh tone, especially given Hogan’s recent passing.
Critics argue that regardless of political differences or past controversies, publicly rejoicing over someone’s death is inappropriate, particularly for someone responsible for shaping young minds.
Outraged netizens have called for Rockwell’s dismissal, questioning whether someone with such divisive views should be involved in the education sector.
While some defended her right to free speech, others argued that her comments crossed a line of basic human decency.
Sarah Rockwell isn’t Fired, But Apologized for Her Comments
Sarah Rockwell has issued a public apology after facing backlash for comments she made about wrestling icon Hulk Hogan.
In a statement posted on her official school board Facebook account, she described her remarks as a cruel and flippant comment, emphasizing that she does not condone harm against anyone.
In case you're wondering how FL Democrats are doing, Alachua County School Board Member Sarah Rockwell is wearing a shirt on the dais today that draws the state of Florida with the word "GAY" and says "Say it with me…" 😂 pic.twitter.com/8pJvhtFDJv
— Jennifer Cabrera (@jhaskinscabrera) September 5, 2023
The controversy began when Rockwell’s comments about Hogan went viral on social media, sparking criticism from the public.
She later deleted the post and issued an apology, acknowledging the inappropriateness of her words.
A few days ago, I made a cruel and flippant comment from my personal Facebook account on a friend’s post regarding the death of Hulk Hogan. I deeply regret making that comment and have since removed it. I want to make it very clear that I never have and never will wish harm on anyone regardless of whether we share political views. While I strongly disagree with some of the comments Hulk Hogan made, that is no excuse for my comment.
Sarah Rockwell
Despite the backlash, she has not been fired from her position.
Her apology appears aimed at rebuilding trust with the community, though it remains to be seen whether the controversy will have lasting effects on her role as a school board member.
Her case highlights the fine line between personal expression and professional responsibility for elected leaders.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Dr. Sarah Rockwell holds a doctoral degree in Special Education from the University of Florida.
- She is married and has two children whom she homeschooled due to medical risk factors.
