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Under current Florida law, educators must obtain explicit permission from a student’s guardians before using a name other than that appearing on official records. Brevard Public Schools said it isn’t renewing Melissa Calhoun’s contract for next year because she called a student by the name they wanted to be called by, not their legal name.
“I would like to address the recent news regarding the disciplinary action and non-renewal of a teacher’s contract within BPS. Unfortunately, much of the media coverage has misrepresented the core issue at hand,” said Wright.
“This situation centers around an educator’s failure to comply with both the law and district policies. Specifically, the educator did not fulfill a fundamental responsibility: to communicate significant changes in a student’s life to their parents. By withholding crucial information, the educator denied the parents the opportunity to provide timely support and guidance during a pivotal moment in their child’s development.”
Unfortunately however, Mrs. Wright’s characterization is disingenuous. According to friends and teachers of past of the student subject to the controversy, they have been going by their preferred name since the 8th grade. The student is now a senior in high school and also attends college at Eastern Florida State for half of the school day.
Tiffany Justice, a founder of Moms for Liberty who lives in neighboring Indian River County, asked, “Would you want your kids’ teachers keeping secrets from you with your child?” Brevard’s current Superintendent Dr. Rendell was the superintendent that served under Justice when she was an Indian River County School Board member. Dr. Rendell made the decision to not renew Mrs. Calhoun’s contract.
Wright’s statement is in addition to the earlier official statement released by BPS below:
“Brevard Public Schools (BPS) was 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. This directly violates state law and the district’s standardized process for written parental consent.
“BPS supports parents’ rights to be the primary decision-makers in their children’s lives, and Florida law affirms their right to be informed.
“After the accusation was made, the district conducted a detailed investigation. Based on the teacher’s own admission that she knowingly did not comply with state statute she received a letter of reprimand. Teachers, like all employees, are expected to follow the law.
“The teacher is working under a ten-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.
“At BPS, our focus is on education–teachers are here to teach and support students academically. Our job is to work in partnership with parents and guardians to ensure student success. ”
“Calhoun worked for the school district for eleven years and taught at DeLaura Middle School, next to Satellite High, before her current position.”
The petition to reinstate Mrs. Calhoun has been signed by nearly 23,000 people.
