A literature teacher at Satellite High School in Brevard County, Florida, may become one of the first educators to lose her job for violating Florida’s controversial Parental Rights in Education law—legislation critics have widely dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” law.
Melissa Calhoun , a 12-year veteran of the Brevard County Public Schools , is at the center of a heated dispute after the district declined to renew her contract. The reason: She used a student’s preferred name in the classroom without receiving prior parental consent.
Breach of policy or human connection?
The district’s decision followed a formal complaint from a parent, prompting an internal investigation. According to Brevard County Schools spokesperson Janet R. Murnaghan, Calhoun admitted to using the student’s chosen name, a direct breach of district policy and state law.
“This directly violates state law and the district’s standardized process for written parental consent,” the district said in a statement. Calhoun was issued a formal reprimand for knowingly disregarding the policy, as reported by NBC News.
Her annual contract, which expires in May, will not be renewed pending the outcome of a state-level review of her teaching credentials.
Students rally, community protests
The district’s move has drawn swift backlash from students and community members. Dozens of Satellite High School students walked out in protest on Thursday, condemning the decision as unjust.
Supporters have also launched a petition urging the Brevard County School Board to reverse the decision. As of Friday, it had amassed more than 22,000 signatures.
A broader legal and cultural battleground
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the original version of the Parental Rights in Education law in March 2022, restricting classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten through third grade. A year later, an expanded version extended the ban through eighth grade and added more restrictions.
The expanded law also prohibits school staff from using pronouns that do not match a student’s sex assigned at birth and requires parental approval before using any name other than the legal one—even nicknames.
In July 2023, the Florida Board of Education reinforced these measures with new district-level enforcement rules, citing the need to protect students and uphold parental rights.
A decision with statewide implications
As the Florida Department of Education reviews Calhoun’s certification, the outcome may set a precedent for how schools across the state interpret and enforce the law. The case has become a flashpoint in the ongoing national debate over LGBTQ+ rights, parental control, and the limits of teacher autonomy in public education.
For now, the future of Melissa Calhoun’s teaching career—and the broader question of who gets to decide how students are addressed in classrooms—remains uncertain.
Melissa Calhoun , a 12-year veteran of the Brevard County Public Schools , is at the center of a heated dispute after the district declined to renew her contract. The reason: She used a student’s preferred name in the classroom without receiving prior parental consent.
Breach of policy or human connection?
The district’s decision followed a formal complaint from a parent, prompting an internal investigation. According to Brevard County Schools spokesperson Janet R. Murnaghan, Calhoun admitted to using the student’s chosen name, a direct breach of district policy and state law.
“This directly violates state law and the district’s standardized process for written parental consent,” the district said in a statement. Calhoun was issued a formal reprimand for knowingly disregarding the policy, as reported by NBC News.
Her annual contract, which expires in May, will not be renewed pending the outcome of a state-level review of her teaching credentials.
Students rally, community protests
The district’s move has drawn swift backlash from students and community members. Dozens of Satellite High School students walked out in protest on Thursday, condemning the decision as unjust.
Supporters have also launched a petition urging the Brevard County School Board to reverse the decision. As of Friday, it had amassed more than 22,000 signatures.
A broader legal and cultural battleground
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the original version of the Parental Rights in Education law in March 2022, restricting classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten through third grade. A year later, an expanded version extended the ban through eighth grade and added more restrictions.
The expanded law also prohibits school staff from using pronouns that do not match a student’s sex assigned at birth and requires parental approval before using any name other than the legal one—even nicknames.
In July 2023, the Florida Board of Education reinforced these measures with new district-level enforcement rules, citing the need to protect students and uphold parental rights.
A decision with statewide implications
As the Florida Department of Education reviews Calhoun’s certification, the outcome may set a precedent for how schools across the state interpret and enforce the law. The case has become a flashpoint in the ongoing national debate over LGBTQ+ rights, parental control, and the limits of teacher autonomy in public education.
For now, the future of Melissa Calhoun’s teaching career—and the broader question of who gets to decide how students are addressed in classrooms—remains uncertain.
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