Recap: Motion to retrain Satellite High teacher over naming issue fails at Brevard Schools

Yahoo

11-05-2025

In the wake of Brevard Public Schools opting not to renew a high school teacher's contract after she used a student's chosen name without parental consent, a protest was held ahead of the April 22 school board meeting.
The district's decision not to renew the annual contract of Melissa Calhoun, an AP English teacher at Satellite High School, came after she "knowingly" defied Florida's law requiring parental consent to use an alternative to a student's legal name, according to BPS Spokesperson Janet Murnaghan. The law, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2023, applies to both shortened forms of a legal name and names related to a student's gender identity. This was a case related to the student's gender identity, classmates and community members said. The student is 17.
Calhoun will finish out the year at Satellite High, but with her teaching credentials under review with the Florida Department of Education, the district will not keep her on for the 2025-2026 school year.
The school board meeting concluded five hours after it began. Nearly all public comments addressed the non-renewal of Calhoun's contract.
Julia, a student who also spoke earlier during the meeting, told the board they were hurting students by not reinstating Calhoun.
"You are piercing a hole in our hearts, in every student at Satellite High School," she said. "I was going to have her as a teacher next year."
Moricz called on the board again to reinstate Calhoun, saying they were choosing to ignore students by opting not to.
"A teacher shortage is never an excuse to lower standards or start breaking the rules, but allowing a qualified educator to become vilified -- that's not holding the standards, that's holding us back," he said.
Allison Newman, a graduate from Brevard Public Schools, spoke on her experience of being groomed by a teacher who was "put on a pedestal." Calhoun's actions, she said, were not the same.
"You have a choice in this moment," she said. "You can choose to really examine what safety really looks like in our schools ... or you can continue to enter the culture wars or dive deeper into this manufactured scenario where we're all just trying to get political attention."
Amy Roub asked parents in the room to raise their hands, then said the board didn't respect any of them.
"They respect one parent to get rid of the teacher that has touched over 3,000 lives," she said. "How does that make any sense? ... Get your boot off of Calhoun's neck."
She asked if Wright's goal was to make trans kids feel that they couldn't go to any adults.
"You love your boot on trans kids. You love punching down," she said.
A student from Viera High brought up concerns about his school's sex education book, saying the chapter on sex abuse was being removed by the district.
The meeting continued four hours past its start time, with public comment still going. Only one person at this point in the whole meeting had one person spoken in support of the decision to not renew Calhoun's contract.
Beckett Casmere, a current student of Calhoun, said her excellence as a teacher is what led to her decision to call her student by their chosen name.
"It is because of this dedication that Ms. Calhoun's contract was not renewed," he said. "It is because she chose to respect a student as opposed to respecting a policy born out of prejudice and fear mongering. This is a travesty of justice."
Paul Roub criticized the district for not listening to the community and students.
"You are caving to the most authoritarian urges and the worst parents in town, as you always do," he said. "The bullies don't need your help. The kids who need your help, the ones who Ms. Calhoun respects, you're abandoning them."
Tyler, a graduate from Brevard Public Schools, said that's the name they've gone by for seven years. At school, they had teachers they trusted, they said.
"I had teachers like her ... who are safe to go to, who called me by my preferred name," they said. "I'm disappointed."
Julia Ackerman said teachers "deserve real support, not constant pressure and disrespect."
"As students, we feel ignored and devalued," she said. "There are more pressing issues in the world than a teacher using a name. We need real change, not empty words from people who rather use us as a stepping stone for political gain."
Aidan McFadden, a former student of Calhoun, expressed the impact she had on his life.
"She really made all of the content that we learned in her class engaging and didn't just treat her students with respect, but challenged us to do our best in all aspects of our lives," he said.
Braden Riley, a former Satellite High student, asked if the board cares about students' best interest.
"I don't know about you guys, but I don't see any students coming here to speak to say they want books banned, and I also don't see any students coming up here to say that they want Calhoun fired," he said.
Commenters were still going strong at 9:10 p.m., more than three and a half hours after the start of the meeting.
Cousins said the form parents must fill out for a student to go by another name is a poor process.
"The student's parents never submitted the deviation from name form," she said. "A lot of parents don't because the districts don't remind you every year, and most people don't even know that exists."
FLORIDA TODAY repeatedly reached out to the parent to request a comment on the situation, but they declined to comment.
Another speaker asked the board to consider the optics of the multiple recesses they held earlier during the meeting.
"All we wanted was to be heard, particularly during the recorded portion of this meeting," she said, adding that while she applauded Thomas' effort to keep Calhoun in her position, retraining isn't the answer. "The rule is cruel and unjust."
Beau Culpepper, a veteran, former high school teacher and Republican, said he felt the handling of Calhoun's non-renewal was wrong.
"If you disagree with what I'm saying, go home tonight and read the Sermon on the Mount," he said. "That's what we're all supposed to do. And if that doesn't satisfy you, go read the Constitution."
Castellana, whose family member is a classmate of the student known by their chosen name, said the student went by their chosen name for five years and questioned the handling of Calhoun's choice to call them by that name.
"We all know we have vacancies throughout the county, and regardless of the board's efforts, teachers are not knocking down the doors to teach in one of our lowest paid counties in the lowest paid state," she said.
Another speaker, a parent, said her child has been repeatedly cut off while addressing the board over the past several years.
"You repeatedly disrespect kids the whole time," she told the board.
Bernard Bryan, education chair with South Brevard NAACP, quoted Pope Francis, saying, "How am I to judge?" He brought up the reading struggles of kids in marginalized and asked the board to address these issues.
After a lengthy recess, during which many audience members cleared out of the room, non-agenda public comment began.
Comments ranged from concerns about current bills making their way through the Florida legislature related to education, anxiety about corruption on the board, the reassignment of Anderson to Saturn Elementary School before she was placed on paid administrative leave again and the non-renewal of Calhoun's contract.
After addressing numerous issues, Jenkins addressed the Satellite High student who asked to go by a name different from their legal name.
"To the student involved in all of this, you are respected, you are affirmed, it was not a bad decision and nobody needs to retrained," Jenkins said.
Thomas said he supports parental rights, but the punishment may not fit the crime.
"We (would be) keeping a teacher," he said. "It's not criminal. It wasn't corrupting public morals. It didn't hurt any kid -- there was no kid that was put in harm's way."
Trent said he supported Rendell, saying they couldn't make both sides happy.
"I'm sure she whole-heartedly believes in what she did," he said. "You mentioned it didn't do any harm to the student. I think I would talk to the parent about that first."
The vote failed one to four, with only Thomas voting in support of retraining Calhoun.
Thomas made a motion to retrain Calhoun, and Trent seconded it.
Board members talked about the possibility of renewing her contract, with Campbell kicking off the discussion.
"It's Dr. Rendell's decision, and I just -- I have a hesitation on that," she said. "We're not saying that she can't ever come back, but there's a pause on that. That is the way that it stands right now."
Wright said she's "felt the frustration" everyone on the board has felt, adding that the board didn't make the decision.
"At the end of the day, I have to side with the parents," she said, adding that if her daughters were going through a "major identity crisis" and she wasn't told about it, it would be a problem. "Parental rights exist for a reason, they exist because of things that have happened in the past around our state that are horrific and cause major damage in families."
Susin said he supported Rendell's decision with little comment.
Board Member John Thomas brought up the possibility of possibly reinstating Calhoun within the district, though he chastised the audience for their outbursts throughout the meeting.
"I am suggesting to the board extending to the superintendent a united call for pause and reevaluate his decision not to renew the contract of Ms. Calhoun," he said, reading from a prepared statement. "I ask my colleagues on the board and our community to consider, are our students, our schools in our district stronger with Ms. Calhoun in the classroom, or stronger without her?"
He suggests that Calhoun be retrained, the training be documented, the district notify the Florida Department of Education of her retraining and they review her contract for the following year.
The school board approved three items under the action portion of the agenda, including the public hearing officer's recommendation to accept Ramsey's financial literacy instructional material as district-wide curriculum.
They made no comment on any item.
The board approved numerous policies that were up for a public hearing, with the public opting not to comment on most items except for the policy addressing student and parent rights.
Kelly Kervin said she liked that, under the new policy, parents will be informed if their students are showing deficiency in math and reading. She'd like to see it expanded potentially to help students get accommodations more quickly.
Colomberti said students deserve to be in environments where they can develop emotional intelligence and compassion on top of their academic skills, adding that students should be allowed to be called by their chosen names.
"I am terribly concerned that instead of preparing the youth to be active participants in our society, we are setting them up to be exploited laborers -- and I can't even get eye contact from half of you right now," she said.
Another speaker addressed the rights of the student who was suspended after sending a profane email and students who were threatened with suspensions if they were to participate in a walkout at Satellite High School.
Erika Orriss, a mental health counselor, thanked the board for honoring parental rights, saying Calhoun's actions weren't about a nickname, but rather gender identity. The law, as it is written, requires parental consent for any deviation from a legal name.
"Our children are our greatest resource," she said. "They need protection. Teachers are looked upon by both students as a figure of influence and authority, and they must adhere to a higher standard, which means they must adhere to the law."
She spoke on gender dysphoria as a mental illness that impacts young girls at a higher rate than males and received boos and jeers from the audience.
Another mental health counselor and mother spoke, saying it's her parental right to have her children be taught by teachers who are compassionate and dedicated to their jobs.
A student who said they have a "connection with gender dysphoria" spoke on the research about transgender people, saying that the best way to help keep transgender people alive and thriving is to affirm them.
"Gender affirming care starts with pronouns and a name," they said. "That, while it seems small, creates an immeasurable difference in the mental health of a transgender child. ... To do a one- or two-day turnaround for a form might seem irrelevant, but to someone who doesn't feel comfortable in their own skin, that is torture."
Gregory Ross brought up the list of reappointed teachers, asking why certain teachers weren't reappointed.
"Due process. That's what's lacking here," he said, adding that accused people have a right to a hearing.
A Satellite High student spoke on the impact of teachers, saying that having a good teacher can shape a person's life.
"Not having good teachers also makes a big difference," she said. "Teachers really are important, and having teachers that inspire makes a difference, and they hold a lot of power."
Sebastian Martinez also spoke on the importance of teachers, saying it can't be measured and that when considering if a teacher should be renewed for the following year, one should consider what kind of environment they create for their students.
"I just want you to always consider to keep all the good teachers you have, especially when there's a teacher shortage in this county and all across the state," he said.
Agenda-related public comment concluded.
Rendell told the audience that Calhoun would not have been listed on the agenda item audience members have been referencing even if she had been renewed.
Amy Roub asked if the board considered students when they chose to hire or fire a teacher.
"Look at this," she said, pointing at the audience. "It's only going to get worse. We're not going to back down. This is only the beginning. Stop firing good teachers."
She asked Wright when the last time was that she sat down with a transgender student or parent, and her microphone was cut off.
Susin smiled and shook his head, with the audience lashing out in response.
"It's not funny, Matt," an audience member shouted.
"Is that what we pay your for? To smirk?" another person said.
Two people flipped the board off and called them fascists as the pair exited the room.
Susin returned partway through public comments. The focus continued to stay largely on Calhoun, though other issues like abuse of power and the Ramsey curriculum were mentioned as well. Speakers were repeatedly halted and told to speak at the end of the meeting.
Jenkins brought up a student who was suspended after sending an email using profanity over the weekend, saying such a punishment is not supposed to be used when an offense is committed off campus.
"Here is the irony: If that student came here and read that exact same email with every single word here at this podium, they can't be disciplined," she said. "For the love of God, please stop walking taxpayers into First Amendment lawsuits."
Speakers continued, and while they strayed from agenda items, they were allowed to continue.
Bill Pearlman asked the board to not punish compassion, saying he is disappointed in the board for using the most "extreme" and "disruptive" option by not rehiring Calhoun.
"There is no law or policy this extreme reaction," he said. "You say a law was violated. I argue that the law puts the wishes of a misguided parent over an emerging adult, and that is a misguided law."
Kelly Colomberti, a former BPS student talks about the impact teachers had on her during her education.
"They need to be retained in Brevard County, as long as they are willing to accept the ridiculous treatment that we put them through for teaching, for treating students with respect," she said.
Initially, the board said she would be the last person to speak on agenda items, though about a dozen people said they had signed up to speak on agenda items. The district reconsidered and allowed them to speak.
The board returned without Board Vice Chair Matt Susin just after 6:35 p.m., with Trent saying audience members who cause a disturbance will be removed and trespassed.
"If you sign up for an agenda, please, just speak to that agenda item," he said, with the audience shouting over him.
"I tried to speak to an agenda item, and you cut me off!" an audience member shouted.
Authorities attempted to remove Shears after she shouted, though she was already on her way out.
Rendell and all board members but Megan Wright exited the room. Speakers continued to speak with phones out to record.
Jenkins say board members who walked out called the audience "deplorables." The audience booed.
One speaker, who has signed the nickname form for her own child, called it a "ridiculous waste of time."
"Ms. Calhoun did nothing other than respect her student's choice," she said, adding that Calhoun should be rewarded, not punished.
The board filed back in to boos from the crowd, and public comment continued.
Jen Cousins, the chair of Florida's GLSEN chapter, gave the board handouts about public schools in the state. She discussed the significant rates of discrimination against trans students in Florida schools. Gibbs attempted to stop her, but the crowd said she could continue, saying it fell under "student rights," which was on the agenda.
Her microphone was cut off, but she continued.
"What Ms. Calhoun did was life support for this student," she said.
"Ma'am, I'm going to go ahead and stop you," Board Chair Gene Trent said.
The board spoke amongst themselves as the crowd shouted that their First Amendment rights were being violated.
Protestors planned how to continue the meeting after the board exited.
Former school board member Jennifer Jenkins stood up and spoke to the room.
"I dare them to continue to shut you down,' she shouted. "They've got a class-action lawsuit waiting to happen."
Moricz told everyone to shoot selfie-style videos.
"Your First Amendment rights are being violated," he said. "We need to humanize that. It's not happening to a crowd. It's happening to you and you and you and you and you."
He stood at the front of the room, shooting a video and filming the crowd shouting.
Superintendent Mark Rendell sat quietly at the dais.
At the start of the public comment portion of the meeting, Board Attorney Paul Gibbs warned the crowd that if they were planning to speak on Calhoun, they would be stopped and told to speak during the non-agenda public comments section.
Commenters discussed teachers' and students' First Amendment rights and parental rights.
Not all comments focused on Calhoun. Sharon Shear questioned why the board is planning to adopt the Dave Ramsey financial literacy program, saying that if the Biblical quotes came from another religion, they would not have chosen to adopt it.
"I am calling the entire board full of religious exclusivism," she said.
She also questioned why Karly Anderson, a teacher who was charged in connection with an alcohol-fueled teen party, was placed on paid leave. Gibbs attempted to cut her off but she continued. The board called a five-minute recess, and the crowd erupted in boos and jeers. Board members exited the room.
At 6 p.m., Brevard Public Schools' human resources department discussed the "Building from Brevard" recruitment efforts, which works to bring students back to the district as teachers.
Public comment related to agenda items was set to begin next.
Audrey, a senior in Calhoun's class, told FLORIDA TODAY she feels Calhoun is not only a great teacher, but someone who shares great life lessons and is very involved in the community.
"I think we're just running out of people that truly care about their students," she said. "(This) was a situation that never should have happened in the first place. So I hope that there's some justice out of this, or at least recognition as to how absurd this decision was."
A little more than 75 people gathered outside Brevard Public Schools' Viera office an hour ahead of the 5:30 p.m.
Zander Moricz, a plaintiff in the lawsuit challenging Florida's House Bill 1557, also known as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, and founder of Social Equity through Education Alliance, led the group in numerous chants in support of Calhoun.
"We are here to hold that board accountable," he shouted. "Raise your hand if you've heard from this school board that they had no choice and they just can't reinstate Ms. Calhoun. That is a lie."
Students and community members have organized multiple protests since news broke about her contract not being renewed on April 9, with a third scheduled for April 22 at 4:30 p.m. outside the Brevard school board meeting in Viera.
The rally was organized by students in partnership with multiple advocacy organizations, including Brevard Public Schools Watch, GLSEN Central Florida, Defense of Democracy, Youth Action Fund and Our Florida.
At 5:30 p.m., the meeting room was packed with parents, students and community members.
Finch Walker is the education reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Walker at [e-mail]. X: @_finchwalker.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Brevard Schools opts not to retrain Satellite High teacher over name issue