Florida teacher of 12 years becomes first to be fired for using student’s preferred name without parent’s permission

A school teacher in Florida has lost her job after referring to one of her students by their preferred name rather than the name on their birth certificate. Her decision to do so cost her career despite 11 years of being an exemplary role model to students thanks to Florida’s draconian laws.

According to local news outlet Florida Today, former AP English Literature teacher Melissa Calhoun’s contract with Satellite High was not renewed after the end of the school year after she used the chosen name of a 17-year-old student without the permission of the child’s parents. 

Unfortunately this is not allowed according to a law signed by universally disliked governor, Ron DeSantis, back in 2023. The Parental Rights in Education bill focused on restricting discussions surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity, it has also been labelled the “don’t say gay” law.

Attorney Bonnie Wilmott explained that a name change “could be the first decision that a child makes to start the transition process, and the parents have nothing to say. The teachers just say, ‘OK, yeah, sure. That’s a good path for you to take.”

The student had supposedly been going by an alternative name that was in line with their gender identity for years. However, the law signed by DeSantis requires parents to sign a form if they wish their child to go by a name different to their legal name.

The response online

Obviously many thought that the response was grossly unfair towards Ms. Calhoun, who was only respecting the student’s chosen name after all. On X, one person called the people who supported Calhoun’s dismissal “toxic” as they claimed “These people were always the ones saying the government has no right to tell them what to do.”

Another individual added that it was the school district’s loss. Melissa Calhoun reportedly had a fantastic record as a teacher, she had been teaching in Brevard Public Schools for over 12 years.

What happened to Melissa Calhoun?

While Calhoun did reach a settlement with the Florida Department of Education that would allow her to return to teaching on a one year probation, her application for a job at Brevard Public Schools was rejected. In a statement released this month, Superintendent Mark Rendell stated, “I believe it is appropriate that the full term of that probation be completed before any consideration of employment.”

As it stands it looks like Calhoun will be able to return to teaching in a year, provided all the requirements for her probation are met. These include a written letter of reprimand, $750 paid to the FLDOE committee and a college-level ethics course to be completed by Calhoun.