A Florida teacher has been fired for using a student’s preferred name without first obtaining consent from the student’s parents
A teacher in Florida has been dismissed from her job for using a student’s preferred name without getting permission from the parents.
This incident has raised many questions about student rights, parental consent, and the role of teachers in schools.
Florida teacher dismissed after using student’s chosen name without approval from parents
Melissa Calhoun, a teacher at Satellite High School in Brevard County, was informed that her contract for the upcoming school year would not be renewed.
The reason for her dismissal was her decision to call a student by a name that was not the student’s legal name. This action was taken without the required parental consent form.
Florida has a law called the “Parental Authorization for Deviation from Student’s Legal Name Form.”
This law requires teachers to get approval from parents before addressing students by any name other than their legal one. The law went into effect at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year.
School conducted investigation following parent’s complaint about teacher.
After the parent of the student raised concerns about Calhoun’s actions, the school district conducted an investigation.
According to a spokesperson for Brevard Public Schools, Calhoun admitted that she had used the student’s preferred name.
As a result of this violation, the school district decided not to renew her teaching contract.
Due to the state’s involvement in reviewing her teaching credentials, the district felt it had no choice but to take this action.
Calhoun had been a teacher at Satellite High School since 2013, making her dismissal particularly impactful for her and her students.
School district emphasizes importance of parental rights in education.
Janet Murnaghan, the spokesperson for Brevard Public Schools, released a statement that emphasized the district’s support for parental rights.
She stated, “BPS supports parents’ rights to be the primary decision-makers in their children’s lives.”
The statement also reinforced the importance of keeping parents informed about their children’s education.
Murnaghan mentioned that the teacher’s contract was set to expire in May 2025. Because the state is reviewing Calhoun’s teaching certificate, the district decided it was best not to renew her contract until the matter is resolved.
“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.”
“At BPS, our focus is on education–teachers are here to teach and support students academically,” Murnaghan wrote. “Our job is to work in partnership with parents and guardians to ensure student success.”
Support from colleagues and community
The decision to fire Calhoun has sparked a wave of support from her colleagues and the community.
During a recent school board meeting, one of her coworkers, Kristine Staniec, spoke out in favor of Calhoun. She argued that the teacher had made a positive impact in her classroom and deserved a fairer treatment.
Staniec pointed out that there was no harmful intent behind Calhoun’s actions.
“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.”
“There was no harm, no threat to safety, no malicious intent, just a teacher trying to connect with a student,” Staniec said.
Petition for reinstatement
In response to Calhoun’s dismissal, a petition has been launched on Change.org titled “Reinstate Ms. Calhoun.”
As of April 10, the petition has gathered over 14,580 signatures from supporters who want her back in the classroom.
One supporter, Joanna, wrote on the petition that she has known Calhoun since she was a student.
Joanna praised Calhoun for her dedication to teaching and her ability to build strong connections with students and their families.
“I have known her since she was 16 as a student in my classroom, and I have watched her flourish as a teacher in her adulthood, from her work at DeLaura Middle School where she inspired so many young people including our son, to her work at Satellite High School where she has not only poured her heart into teaching but also to developing strong bonds with students and their families.
She truly is the best of the best. Please reinstate her. It is unquestionably the right thing to do.”
