Report: Teacher’s Certification Being Reviewed for Using Student’s Preferred Pronouns
On April 15th, 2025, K-12 Dive reported that a Florida teacher’s certification is under review after she used the preferred pronouns of a high school student. Beyond that, her contract with the school was not renewed. K-12 Dive notes that it is the first widely-known case of a teacher in the state facing adverse professional action under the state’s highly controversial 2023 law that restricts the use of preferred pronouns by teachers. At the Scott Law Team, we have also filed a lawsuit against the State of Florida on behalf of another teacher, Toby Tobin, who lost his job as a result of the same law. You can learn more about Mr. Tobin’s case in this episode of the Cathleen Scott Podcast. In this article, you will find a more detailed overview of the case and the law in Florida.
Background: Florida Lawmakers Passed Law Restricting Use of Preferred Pronouns in School
In May of 2023, Florida lawmakers enacted House Bill 1069, a law that dramatically expanded the Parental Rights in Education Act. The law has also been referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” law by its critics. Notably, the legislation prohibits public school employees from using personal titles or pronouns that do not align with their sex assigned at birth. Beyond that, the law bars school staff from asking students about their preferred pronouns or encouraging them to use pronouns differing from their assigned sex. The Florida State Board of Education also took action to reinforce that law through Rule 6A-1.0955. That regulation mandates that any deviation from a student’s legal name requires written parental consent via a specific authorization form. There has been very strong opposition from LGBTQ+ rights groups.
Brevard County Case First Widely Publicized Professional Sanctions for Teacher Under Law
Melissa Calhoun was employed as a teacher at Satellite High School in Brevard County, Florida. As confirmed by reporting from K-12 Dive, Ms. Calhoun faced the non-renewal of her contract after she allegedly agreed to address a student by their preferred name without obtaining the required parental consent. An investigation by Brevard Public Schools concluded that Calhoun knowingly violated the state statute and the district’s policy. Based on that internal investigation by the school, Ms. Calhoun was subject to a formal reprimand and the non renewal of her contract.
Another key issue in this case is that Melissa Calhoun is now reportedly also facing a professional investigation by the Florida regulations. As of April of 2025, the Florida Department of Education is reviewing Melissa Calhoun’s teaching certification following her use of a student’s preferred name without parental consent. As noted, that is a violation of state law. The review is still ongoing. Depending on the outcome, it could potentially lead to further sanctions—potentially even including the suspension or revocation of her teaching license. The case will be closely watched to see what (if any) action the Florida Department of Education takes against the teacher.
Get Help From a Florida Employment Lawyer Today
Employment law is complicated. For teachers in Florida, there are a number of different unique employment-related issues that can arise. If you have any specific questions or concerns about your rights or your options, an experienced Florida employment lawyer can help.
