Florida teacher loses job for calling student by ‘preferred’ name

SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. – Thousands are signing a petition to try to help a teacher get her job back at Satellite High School.

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.

It might sound innocent, but Florida law says that for a teacher to call a student by their ‘preferred’ name, their parents have to give written permission, and in this case, the school district says that didn’t happen.

The Florida Legislature passed the law in 2023.

Kristine Staniec works at Calhoun’s school and stood up for her at Tuesday night’s school board meeting.

“The teacher made a difference in her classroom and in the lives of our students, including my own child. She deserved more than a quiet exit. She deserved fairness, context, and compassion,” the Satellite High media specialist said.

The district said Calhoun knew she wasn’t allowed to call the student by the preferred name but did so anyway.

“There was no harm, no threat to safety, no malicious intent, just a teacher trying to connect with a student,” Staniec said at the board meeting.

Now, a lot of Calhoun’s former students are trying to help her through the Change.org petition.

More than 5,000 supporters are calling for the district to reinstate Calhoun.

“She is irreplaceable, not only a good teacher, but significantly more importantly she is the kindest and most caring person I have ever met in my life,” one supporter commented.

A statement from the district says the student’s parents came forward, and that’s how this investigation started.

You can read the full statement from Chief Strategic Communications Officer Janet Murnaghan below.