Florida school district declines to renew teacher’s contract over use of student’s preferred name

Melissa Calhoun, a literature teacher in Brevard County, Florida, faces contract non-renewal for using a student’s preferred name without parental consent, allegedly violating the state’s Parental Rights in Education law. The decision has sparked student protests and public backlash, spotlighting the broader clash between LGBTQ+ inclusivity, parental authority, and teacher discretion in Florida’s public schools.