TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie said he is concerned about statements made by Viki Knox, a high school teacher whose anti-gay Facebook comments set off a debate about free speech and gay rights.

"I think that kind of example is not a positive one at all to be setting for folks who have such an important and influential position in our society," Christie said this morning on 770 WABC Radio. "I'm really concerned about those kinds of statements being made."

Christie said he finds the comments "disturbing."

The uproar over Knox began two weeks ago when she posted comments on her public Facebook page critical of a Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender History Month display at Union High School. The special-education teacher with more than 20 years of experience went on to describe homosexuality as “a perverted spirit” and “a sin that breeds like cancer.”

The district launched an investigation last week to determine whether Knox’s conduct violated any school policies. The teacher retained an attorney Friday through her union, the New Jersey Education Association.

In an earlier post, Knox had called on students in her Seekers Fellowship Bible study group to pray. “Well, the enemy is making it clear and plain as day what Seekers Fellowship needs to pray about/against,” Knox wrote beneath a photo of the display.

Christie, who was asked to comment on the brewing controversy, used as an opportunity to discuss his call to overhaul teacher evaluations and do away with the current tenure system. Christie has called for a review process that includes in-classroom evaluations and standardized tests to re-approve teachers every three years instead of life-time tenure.

"I would like to see an examination of how that teacher conducts herself in the classroom," Christie said.

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