A ‘cherished’ teacher who had been employed by a school system for over ten years was fired when it was alleged that she had been using a name that was not on the student’s registration.
Melissa Calhoun has worked for Brevard Public Schools (BPS) in Brevard County, Florida, for the last eleven years.
However, the school board has opted not to extend her contract because she disregarded a state regulation requiring instructors to address their students by their legal name.
She was fired after one of her students requested that she use a name that wasn’t on their birth certificate. This is a common request from people going through gender transition,
But it can also be a nickname. In 2023, a bill was passed requiring parents to provide written consent before a name change can be made.
