Teacher loses job for using high school student’s preferred name

SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. (WESH) - Students at a Florida high school are upset after administrators chose not to renew a teacher’s contract.

This comes after the teacher addressed a transgender student by their chosen name instead of their legal name.

Dozens of students exited Satellite High School on Thursday to gather near the edge of the parking lot. They voiced concerns over the district’s decision to not renew a teacher’s contract for next school year.

“We’re here to really show support for Mrs. Calhoun, and to show that we are not OK with what is going on and that we truly are upset that we are losing such a positive teacher,” Brianna Knight said.

Knight is a sophomore at Satellite High School. Her mother gave permission for her to speak about the issue.

“She just has done so much within the community, so it’s just really upsetting to know that we are losing that,” Knight added.

The Brevard County School District said in a statement they were “made aware that a teacher at Satellite High School had been referring to a student by a name other than their legal name, without parental permission, when the parent reached out to us.”

The district said that violates state law.

The law the district is referring to is Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Bill, referred to by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

“To me, it really stems back to a First Amendment right of both the student and the teacher,” Robert Jones, a parent in the district, said. “Sure, the parents have their rights to do what they wish in their homes and with their child, but the student in the classroom, I believe, and the teacher should also be protected by our Constitution.”

Parents and students continued to voice their concerns on Thursday, even after dismissal, saying the removal of the teacher for the following school year isn’t right.

The district added in their statement, “The teacher is working under a 10-month contract that expires in May 2025. 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 teacher and the teacher’s union declined to comment. Supporters set up an online petition.