A Florida high school teacher has lost her job after using a student’s chosen name without parental consent, marking the first known case under a 2023 state law that restricts such actions in public schools.
Melissa Calhoun, an English teacher at Satellite High School in Brevard County, was informed that her contract would not be renewed for the upcoming school year. The decision followed an internal investigation confirming she had referred to a 17-year-old student by a name that aligned with the student’s gender identity, without obtaining the required parental approval.
Florida’s “Parental Authorization for Deviation from Student’s Legal Name Form” law, enacted in 2023, mandates that educators must have written parental consent before using any name other than a student’s legal name. This includes nicknames and names reflecting gender identity. The law is part of a broader set of regulations introduced under Governor Ron DeSantis, aimed at reinforcing parental rights in educational settings.
Brevard Public Schools spokesperson Janet Murnaghan stated that Calhoun knowingly violated the statute. Superintendent Mark Rendell emphasized the importance of parental involvement, saying, “The parent is our partner in this education endeavor that we have with our children.”
The district’s decision has sparked significant community response. At a recent school board meeting, dozens of students and parents advocated for Calhoun’s reinstatement, highlighting her positive impact on students. A Change.org petition supporting her has garnered over 14,500 signatures.
Critics argue that the law may infringe upon First Amendment rights. The ACLU of Florida expressed concerns about potential viewpoint discrimination, especially if the law is applied selectively based on the nature of the name used.
This incident underscores the ongoing national debate over the balance between parental rights and the rights of students and educators, particularly concerning issues of gender identity and expression in schools.