A Florida high school teacher has become the first known educator in the state to lose her job under a new law requiring parental consent to use a student’s preferred name.
Melissa Calhoun, a teacher at Satellite High School in Brevard County, was informed that her contract would not be renewed after she referred to a student by a name different from their legal one, without obtaining parental approval.
District officials confirmed the decision aligns with a state law signed by Governor Ron DeSantis before the 2023–2024 school year.
“Brevard Public Schools supports parents’ rights to be the primary decision-makers in their children’s lives, and Florida law affirms their right to be informed,” district spokesperson Janet Murnaghan said in a statement to the New York Post.
Calhoun, an 11-year veteran teacher, reportedly respected a student’s request to be called by a name typically associated with a different gender. When the student’s parents became aware of the change, they alerted the school, prompting an investigation.
According to sources familiar with the situation, Calhoun admitted that she knowingly did not comply with the law, which mandates a signed parental consent form for using a non-legal name in the classroom. As a result, her annual contract, set to expire in May 2025, will not be renewed. Additionally, the Florida Department of Education is reviewing her teaching credentials.
“The district has decided not to renew the annual contract until the issue is resolved with the state,” Murnaghan added.
Calhoun has not publicly commented on the decision, but her dismissal has sparked significant backlash in the community. Parents and staff members supported her at a heated school board meeting earlier this week.
“The teacher made a difference in her classroom and in the lives of our students, including my child,” said Kristine Staniec, a parent and school employee. “She deserved more than a quiet exit. She deserved fairness, context, and compassion.”
Student-led protests erupted outside Satellite High School on Thursday, and a petition demanding Calhoun’s reinstatement has garnered over 18,000 signatures in just three days.
“Ms. Calhoun is the embodiment of what proper education should be: inclusive, understanding, and respectful of individuality,” the petition states. “Losing her would be a significant loss to Brevard County’s education community.”
Governor DeSantis’ office did not respond to requests for comment.
Reported by M10News | Source: New York Post
