Florida teacher first known to be fired for using student’s preferred name without parents’ consent

A Florida high school teacher lost her job after using a student’s preferred name without their parents’ consent — the first known teacher to be fired under a state law implemented last school year.

Melissa Calhoun, a teacher at Satellite High School in Brevard County, learned that her contract will not be renewed next year after she called a student by a different name without getting a signed form from their parents, according to district officials.

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 told Florida Today.

Calhoun is the first known educator in Florida to lose her job under a Sunshine State law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis before the start of the 2023-2024 school year that requires teachers to get parental permission before calling a student by a name different from their legal one. 

Calhoun, who had taught at the school for 11 years, was respecting the request of a student whose legal name is associated with girls, a person familiar with the situation told The Washington Post.

The student’s parents notified the school that Calhoun was calling their child by their preferred name, sparking an investigation.

The teacher allegedly admitted she “knowingly did not comply with the state statute.”

As a result, the district chose not to renew Calhoun’s annual contract as the state reviews her teaching credential for violating state law, according to the outlet.

“The teacher is working under a ten-month contract that expires in May 2025,” Murnaghan’s statement continued. “Since the state will be reviewing her teaching certificate based on these actions, the district decided not to renew the annual contract until the issue is resolved with the state.”

The firing has sparked outrage in the local community, with many speaking out against the move at a fiery board of education meeting Tuesday night, ClickOrlando reported.

“The teacher made a difference in her classroom and in the lives of our students, including my own child. She deserved more than a quiet exit. She deserved fairness, context, and compassion,” mother and school employee, Kristine Staniec, said at the meeting.

Groups of students protested Calhoun’s firing outside of Satellite High School on Thursday.

A petition on change.org demanding Calhoun’s reinstatement has racked up more than 18,000 signatures over the last three days.

“Ms. Calhoun is an embodiment of what proper education should be: inclusive, understanding, and respectful of individuality. Losing her would be a significant loss to Brevard County’s education community,” the petition said.