A Florida teacher has lost her job for calling a student by a preferred name without permission from the child’s parents, sparking debate over parental rights and the role of educators in social issues.
Key Facts:
- Melissa Calhoun, an AP Literature teacher at Satellite High School, was fired for using a student’s preferred name without parental consent.
- Florida law requires written permission from parents before teachers can refer to students by names differing from their legal names.
- Calhoun admitted she knowingly broke the law and received a formal reprimand before her contract was not renewed.
- Brevard Public Schools stated the teacher’s actions violated state policy and undermined parental authority.
- Community members protested the firing, though many parents support the law designed to protect their role in guiding their children.
The Rest of the Story: Florida Law and Parental Consent in Schools
Melissa Calhoun, a teacher with over a decade of experience, will not return to Satellite High School next year.
Her contract was not renewed after school officials discovered she used a student’s preferred name without obtaining signed parental consent, as required under a Florida law enacted two years ago.
The student’s parent reported the incident, leading Brevard Public Schools to review Calhoun’s actions.
Calhoun later acknowledged she knowingly broke the law.
The district issued a reprimand and alerted the state, which will review her teaching license.
Though she’ll finish the current school year, her employment ends in May.
While some local residents protested her firing, the district stood firm, reaffirming its commitment to parental rights and academic focus.
Melissa Calhoun, a teacher at @BrevardSchools in FL, was fired from her teaching position after allegedly attempting to socially transition a child behind parents' backs by using “preferred names”, violating Florida law.
Any teacher who tries to circumvent parental rights with… pic.twitter.com/1ezTM3ncEc
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) April 11, 2025
Commentary: Parents Have the Right to Know
This case sends a clear and overdue message: parents—not schools—should make decisions about their children’s identities.
Melissa Calhoun’s choice to ignore a state law, and the wishes of the student’s parents, rightly cost her job.
Teachers are hired to educate, not to insert themselves into sensitive family matters.
The idea that a public school employee can decide to call a child by a different name, especially in cases tied to gender identity, without informing the parents, is deeply troubling.
It’s an erosion of parental authority and opens the door to ideological influence without accountability.
Florida’s law exists for a reason—it safeguards transparency and places parents back at the center of their children’s upbringing.
Calhoun’s case proves that these laws are not just political statements; they have real consequences when broken.
This precedent should be expanded.
Teachers who deliberately sidestep parents on matters of identity should face more than just termination—they should be subject to legal scrutiny.
There are grooming laws for a reason, and state authorities should investigate whether this case meets that threshold.
While some may view the firing as harsh, it reflects a growing recognition that schools must serve families, not override them.
The classroom is no place for activism.
It’s time to draw clear boundaries.
The Bottom Line: Florida Teacher Fired After Using Preferred Name
Melissa Calhoun’s firing over a preferred name violation shows Florida is serious about protecting parental rights in schools.
Laws like these ensure transparency and accountability.
As other states watch closely, this case may become a national benchmark.
For now, Florida parents can rest easier knowing they remain in control of their children’s education and identity decisions.
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