Dozens of parents, teachers and students held a rally outside the Brevard County School Board meeting on Tuesday to protest in support of a local teacher after learning her contract would not be renewed.

Multiple Satellite High teachers were investigated in relation to a high school student who asked to go by another name without written parental consent, though only one received a letter of reprimand and later did not have her contract renewed, according to a district spokesperson.

Parents, teachers and students are rallying in support of a Florida teacher who is losing her job. Her teacher contract is not being resigned for never year, because she used a student’s preferred name without their parent’s permission which violated state law. A petition to get the Brevard County teacher’s contract renewed has more than 10,000 signatures.

Melbourne residents are showing support for a Satellite High School teacher whose contract isn’t being renewed after she used a students preferred name instead of their legal name. 

Supporters of a popular teacher losing her job for using a student’s ‘preferred’ name without a parent’s permission held another rally Friday to protest Brevard Public Schools’ decision not to renew Melissa Calhoun’s contract.

‘It is unfair that teachers work in a district where they can’t respect their students by simply calling them what they preferred to be called,’ said Parsons, who purposely wore blue, Calhoun’s favorite color. ‘It’s unacceptable that teachers have to face such dramatic consequences.’

For Immediate Release: Brevard Community Hosts “Stand with Calhoun Rally” Ahead of Key School Board Vote

“A Florida community is outraged after a veteran high school teacher was fired for calling a student by their preferred name rather than their legal name.

Interview with Brevard County parent and activist Amy Roub, about Ms. Calhoun’s dismissal. The interview starts at 9:15 into the podcast. (CBC Listen, 4/14/2025)

In the wake of a Brevard teacher losing her job as a result of using a student’s preferred name without parental consent, questions have arisen about what the Florida law actually says.