Melissa Calhoun, a beloved AP English teacher at Satellite High School in Brevard County, FL, was fired after she called a student by their preferred name without a signed parental permission form.
You read that correctly. Needless to say, no teachers have been disciplined for calling a Daniel "Dan" or a Matthew "Matt".
While the district could have chosen a number of different responses — including just issuing a warning — they chose to terminate her contract, bending the knee to Moms For Liberty and other hate groups.
Among their "our-hand-were-tied" excuses was the fear that the state would suspend Ms. Calhoun's teaching certification. On July 30th, the state's review board settled with Ms. Calhoun and kept her certification intact.
Please join the tens of thousands of people who have signed the petition urging the district to reinstate Ms. Calhoun, and use our forms to contact the board directly and let them know that the public (and in particular, the voting public) will not stand for this kind of behavior.
Sign the Petition
The petition has now passed 55,000 signatures!
Make your voice heard and help bring attention to this cause.
Contact the School Board
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In the News
Local, national and international news and interviews on this injustice. Updated daily.
I was a student under Mrs. Calhoun for 2 years. She was always a safe place to go for anyone having trouble.Lily
We need more teachers like Ms. Calhoun that are willing to make their students feel seen in a world that already makes them feel so small.Sara
I have had Mrs. Calhoun for my Freshmen and Sophomore year of high school, and she is no doubt one of the most supportive teachers at this school.Madison
Ms. Calhoun was my ninth grade English teacher; and an absolutely amazing person. Her sense of empathy and respect is a strength, not a weakness.Rachel