A Florida high school teacher has been fired for calling a student an alternative name without getting parental permission, making her the first educator to be fired under a state law passed last year.
Melissa Calhoun, a teacher at Satellite High School in Brevard County, will not have her contract renewed next school year after using a preferred name without obtaining a parental consent form, Florida Today reported Thursday.
“BPS supports parents’ rights to be the primary decision-makers in their children’s lives, and Florida law affirms their right to be informed,” Brevard County Public Schools spokesperson Janet Murnaghan told the outlet.
Calhoun worked for the school district beginning in 2013, with her most recent position being an AP Literature teacher, according to her LinkedIn profile. The school is not renewing her position because the state will be reviewing her teaching credentials due to her willful violation of the law. The school district conducted an investigation into Calhoun after the student’s parent told the district what was going on.
“At BPS our focus is on education — teachers are here to teach and support students academically,” Murnaghan said. “Our job is to work in partnership with parents and guardians to ensure student success.”
Calhoun is the first teacher terminated under a Florida law that requires educators to obtain parental permission before using a different name for a student. The law applies to minors claiming to be transgender or requesting other deviations from their legal name.
Florida’s board of education created the law and Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed it in 2023. It is unclear what the required consequences are for violators. The law is one of several parental rights initiatives passed by DeSantis who has been at the forefront of fighting left-wing ideological capture in education.
Left-wing activists using what a minor considers their new name can facilitate a social gender transition prior to a child receiving life altering transgender medical procedures. Several people who were once transgender and have since detransitioned have spoken up about the issues they suffered after being rushed into gender transitions despite facing a rash of mental health issues and other difficulties.
Some parents, students, and left-wing activist groups have pushed for Calhoun’s reinstatement, with an online petition supporting Calhoun garnering almost 20,000 signatures. The change.org petition praises Calhoun for being a “dedicated educator” and “respected member” of the community she grew up in.
“(This moment is) about standing up for students, supporting educators and preserving the moral backbone of our public schools,” left-wing groups Florida Defense of Democracy, Youth Action Fund, Moms for Libros, National Parents Union, and Our Florida said in a joint press release.
“Ms. Calhoun stood up for her student. Now it’s time for us to stand up for her.”