Community Outraged After Florida Teacher Loses Job For Calling Student By Preferred Name

A Florida community is outraged after a veteran high school teacher was fired for calling a student by their preferred name rather than their legal name.

Melissa Calhoun had worked at Brevard County arts magnet school Satellite High School since 2019 and in the district for 12 years, but has been told her contract will not be renewed after the student's parent complained.

The student had asked to be called a name that aligned with their gender identity. Calhoun doing so is a violation of Florida state law, however, which requires parental consent to use a preferred name, even if it's just a nickname.

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The law, passed in 2023, requires parents give consent in writing on a “Parental Authorization for Deviation from Student’s Legal Name Form," and was part of far-right Republican Governor Ron DeSantis' "war on woke."

Many other states have similar legislation or proposed laws like Florida's, but Calhoun's case marks the first time a teacher has been fired for using a student's preferred name.

Calhoun's case has sparked outrage in the local community, where a petition to rehire her has been distributed and has gained nearly 45,000 signatures as of this writing.

Students have also staged protests, and Calhoun's colleagues have spoken publicly to vouch for her character and credentials.

One such colleague, Kristine Staniec, a media specialist at Satellite High School, told the school board last week:

“My colleague and child’s teacher was let go after just two weeks of internal review."

"There was no harm, no threat to safety, no malicious intent, just a teacher trying to connect with a student, and for that, her contract was not renewed.”

Calhoun's case has also inspired outrage and outpourings of support on social media.

The school board has maintained it made the right decision based on state law.