BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – After a Brevard County teacher drew fire for calling a student by a “preferred name,” more teachers are now being investigated, according to the local teachers’ union.
On Friday, officials with the Brevard Federation of Teachers (BFT) told Local 10 Orlando news partner WKMG News 6 that the union is representing one such teacher who was reported anonymously to the district.
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“It is not clear what the social media post was or who made the initial post, as it was completely redacted,” a message from the union reads.
Last month, the school district announced that a teacher at Satellite High School, identified as Melissa Calhoun, had knowingly called a student by a “preferred name” without the permission of the student’s parents, which is a violation of state law.
After the parents came forward, an investigation was launched into the incident, which resulted in school officials deciding not to renew her contract after it expires this month.
However, union officials explained that the teacher being investigated this time around is not from the same high school as Calhoun, though that teacher’s identity has yet to be revealed.
“We have heard that other teachers have received letters that they are being investigated,” a union representative wrote. “However, they have not reached out to us for representation.”
News 6 reached out to the school district to verify whether these investigations are taking place. A spokeswoman responded with the following statement:
“The district is required by state statute to investigate complaints. There are investigations across the district on a variety of topics. We do not release information about active investigations.
What I can tell you is that thus far no other employee has received a letter of reprimand or other disciplinary action related to referring to a student by a different gender identity without parental permission."
Chief Communications Officer Janet Murnaghan, Brevard County Public Schools
Meanwhile, BFT representatives also told News 6 that students have been pulled to make statements about teachers, though it’s not a new process.
Former Brevard County School Board member Jennifer Jenkins took to Facebook to comment on the allegations.
“I’ve been told alarmingly that dozens of kids have been pulled into offices, having conversations trying to out their teachers,” Jenkins said. “This is a week when kids are already dealing with test anxiety.”
In an interview, Jenkins told News 6 that she had received a message that local principals were being warned about a parent who was “specifically targeting teachers all across this county, taking pictures of screenshots of social media posts and comments and replies that they made.”
Jenkins claimed that the district is now targeting teachers who expressed public support for Calhoun.
“They’re asking if teachers discuss sexuality, if they have banned books or Pride flags in their classrooms,” Jenkins said. “They’re telling them that rainbow flags are illegal in Florida, and they’re not.”
No additional information has been provided at this time, including what these other investigations may entail.