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Satellite Beach, FL – On Friday, April 18, students, educators, parents, and allies from across Brevard
County will gather for the Stand with Calhoun Parade—a peaceful, community-driven action in support
of Ms. Melissa Calhoun, the Satellite High School teacher whose contract is not being renewed after
using a student’s preferred name.
The parade will take place from 2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. at the corner of Jackson and South Patrick
Drive, and is intended to visibly demonstrate public support for Ms. Calhoun ahead of the upcoming
Brevard County School Board meeting on Tuesday, April 23.
“Ms. Calhoun’s case represents something much bigger than a contract decision,” said Amy Roub, Florida
Defense of Democracy. “This is about what kind of classroom environment we want for our kids—and
what kind of educators we’re willing to lose if we continue down this path.”
Attendees will hear directly from students, parents, teachers, and community leaders who are concerned
about the broader implications of silencing educators who prioritize student dignity and respect. The
parade is not a protest—it’s a family-friendly show of solidarity, meant to highlight that the majority of
Brevard supports inclusive education and the teachers who foster it.
This event is a precursor to a larger mobilization: community members are being urged to attend the
Brevard County School Board meeting on Tuesday, April 23 at 5:30 p.m., where Ms. Calhoun’s case
and the district’s broader policies on inclusivity and classroom freedoms are expected to be a central
topic.
“We’re asking everyone who cares about public education in Brevard to show up—not just Friday, but on
Tuesday at the school board,” said one organizer. “What happens next will shape the future of our
schools.”
The effort has gained national attention, with support from organizations like Equality Florida, the
National Parents Union, and GLSEN Central Florida. Over 10,000 people have signed a petition
demanding the renewal of Ms. Calhoun’s contract. More information can be found here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DIeE6AuOI9b/?img_index=1
