Advocate: Florida high school teacher loses job for using student’s preferred name
“Melissa Calhoun, a teacher at Satellite High School in Brevard County, was denied a contract renewal for the 2025-2026 school year after allegedly calling a student by their preferred name without their parent’s permission. She is believed to be the first fired for refusing to comply with the state’s forced outing policy.” (Advocate, 4/10/2025)
The Independent: Florida teacher fired after calling student their ‘preferred name’ without parents’ permission
“A Florida teacher was fired by a school district after she called a pupil by their preferred name without getting permission from their parents.” (The Independent, 4/10/2025)
Newsweek: Florida Teacher’s Job Status on Hold for Using Student’s ‘Preferred Name’
“A teacher in Florida has been told she won’t have her contract extended “until the issue is resolved with the state” after she referred to a child be their preferred name, rather than legal their legal name, without parental consent.” (Newsweek, 4/10/2025)
Washington Post: Florida teacher loses job for calling student by preferred name
“It’s the first known dismissal stemming from the conservative campaign to limit schools’ recognition of transgender identity.” (Washington Post, 4/10/2025)
Times of India: Florida teacher fired for using student’s preferred name, raising alarms in US education system
“A Florida teacher, Melissa Calhoun, was fired for using a student’s preferred name instead of their legal name, violating state law HB 1069.” (Times of India, 4/10/2025)
Joint Press Release
For Immediate Release: Brevard County Teacher Faces Non-Renewal After Using Student’s Preferred Name
Florida Today: Brevard teacher first to lose job over Florida law requiring parent sign-off on preferred name →
It’s the first reported incident of a teacher losing their job as a result of Florida’s law requiring parental consent for a child to go by an alternative to their legal name in school.
News 6: Florida teacher loses job for calling student by ‘preferred’ name →
Teacher didn’t have parents’ permission, school district says
Florida Today: Satellite High teacher loses job after using student’s preferred name →
Brevard Public Schools has opted not to renew a Satellite High School teacher’s contract after she referred to a student by a name other than their legal name without parental permission.
Petition: Reinstate Ms. Calhoun: Advocate for Respect and Student Rights at Satellite High School
Ms. Calhoun, a cherished teacher at Satellite High School will lose her teaching position in Brevard County. A dedicated educator and respected member of the community where she grew up and now greatly contributes, Ms. Calhoun is being punished merely for showing respect to a student’s choices. She was reprimanded for referring to a student by the name they prefer rather than their official name - a direct blow to personal rights and respect.