Multiple teachers investigated in relation to use of student's chosen name at Satellite High

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11-05-2025

Multiple Satellite High teachers were investigated in relation to a high school student who asked to go by another name without written parental consent, though only one received a letter of reprimand and later did not have her contract renewed, according to a district spokesperson.
Melissa Calhoun, an AP English teacher at Satellite High School, "knowingly did not comply" with Florida law that requires parental consent for students to go by any alternative to their legal name, according to Brevard Public Schools Spokesperson Janet Murnaghan. Calhoun's contract wasn't renewed for the 2025-2026 school year, as her teaching credentials are now under review by the Florida Department of Education. She is the first known educator to suffer job loss in relation to the 2023 law.
The student in question wanted to be known by a name related to their gender identity, according to school and community members.
Calhoun wasn't the only teacher investigated in relation to the use of the student's chosen name. Multiple other teachers were investigated, Murnaghan said April 21 in response to a FLORIDA TODAY question, but none of the others were reprimanded.
Murnaghan did not specify how many teachers were included in the investigation.
Under a Florida law, signed in 2023 by Gov. Ron DeSantis, parents must sign a form if their child wishes to go by any alternative to their legal name, whether that be a shortened form of their given name or a chosen name related to their gender identity.
"This was not a simple case of someone named Madison wanting to go by Maddie, for example, or a Nicholas wanting to go by Nic," School Board member Katye Campbell wrote in a letter, responding to constituents who reached out about the issue.
Since news broke regarding Calhoun's contract not being renewed, a groundswell of support for her has developed around the county, with Satellite High students, parents and alumni largely leading the movement. Two peaceful protests were held — one on April 10 outside the school and the other on April 18 within walking distance.
Multiple students reported being suspended for participating in a walkout, though Murnaghan disputed this.
"No students were suspended at Satellite High School in relation to Ms. Calhoun's non-renewal," Murnaghan said.
Teachers also received an email from BPS' HR department warning them not to participate in a strike after a social media post went up about a statewide call-out in support of Calhoun.
Here's what we know.
Students at Satellite High planned a walkout for fifth period on April 10. But upon receiving warning from the school that day that walking out could result in suspensions, they quickly changed plans, instead opting to write an email in class to Florida representatives, then meet in the courtyard with signs after school.
A photo taken on April 10 from inside a Satellite High classroom that was shared with FLORIDA TODAY, showed an email sent to teachers from the school's principal, Courtney Lundy. In the message, Lundy told teachers to remind students that they could not skip class or leave campus.
"Leaving campus, as always, results in suspension," Lundy wrote, though she did not specify how long the suspensions would last or if they would be in-school or out-of-school suspensions.
Leaving campus without permission is punishable by placement at an alternative classroom, extended detention, financial restitution, in-school suspension or out-of-school suspension for one to five days, according to BPS' Student Code of Conduct.
A Satellite High student was given a suspension for the use of vulgar language in a profanity-laced email she sent to school board members outside of school hours from her personal email account, according to records sent to FLORIDA TODAY from a former district employee.
In the email, sent on April 12 -- a Saturday -- the student tells board members that she doesn't feel they understand what is going on at the school and that a parent should not have a "right over there (sic) kids."
"I learn more off social media then your stupid (expletive) teaching lessons," she said. "The brevard county public schools has done nothing but prepared me for failure so i hope you're happy. The way you guys run (expletive) is not right and it's stupid."
School Board member Megan Wright responded, including the student's mother, Superintendent Mark Rendell and the school principal, saying she understood the community's frustration but didn't understand how "this type of email and language will achieve anything productive to the situation."
"Should you want to have a productive conversation where you can voice your concerns like a respectable person, I welcome that opportunity!" Wright wrote in an email obtained by FLORIDA TODAY. "But sending emails with curse words and insults isn't going to get you anywhere but in trouble."
The student, who wrote an apology back to Wright, was given a suspension for one day, with the school citing the use of profane language as the reason for the suspension. The school noted that the student's parent could schedule a conference with the school's assistant principal or dean to dispute the suspension, with the student not allowed to return to class in the meantime.
The student code of conduct addresses the use of obscenities, listing it as a level one behavior, in other words, a "relatively minor misbehavior ... that affects the orderly operation on a school campus, a school bus/bus stop, at a school/school board sponsored function or while at other school board facilities."
According to the code of conduct, students are to follow the code's rules "while at school or at a school sponsored activity and to expect consequences for any inappropriate behavior."
The student declined to comment to FLORIDA TODAY, and the district spokeswoman didn't directly address this incident in an email responding to FLORIDA TODAY questions. Wright didn't respond to an email seeking comment.
Concerns arose among district staff during the week of April 17 regarding the potential of a coordinated teacher call-out in the coming days, according to email records forwarded to FLORIDA TODAY by Murnaghan.
On April 17, Ryan Dufrain, assistant superintendent of human resources at Brevard Public Schools, sent out an email to educators saying they could not participate in a strikes or coordinated work stoppages under Florida law and the union's collective bargaining agreement. He also wrote to Anthony Colucci, president of Brevard Federation of Teachers, and other union leadership to alert them to his concerns and ask that they discourage participation in a call-out.
"We ask for your assistance in discouraging any actions that could disrupt learning, violate contractual provisions or put employees at risk of avoidable consequences," Dufrain said. "If there are unresolved concerns or pressures that are driving these discussions, we remain open to continued dialogue and collaboration through the appropriate labor-management channels."
Dufrain didn't say what prompted his emails, though a graphic posted to Facebook urged teachers statewide to call out in support of Calhoun on April 21. No name or organization was attached to the graphic, and it did not receive broad circulation.
Participating in a call-out could result in "loss of pay for unauthorized absences, requirement to submit medical documentation or disciplinary action," Dufrain said, citing Florida law, which prohibits public employees from striking.
"We want to be clear: This is not intended to silence concerns," he said in his email to educators. "We encourage employees to continue raising issues through the appropriate channels, including your union representatives and district leadership. Constructive dialogue remains the most effective path forward."
The social media post continued to gain little traction throughout the day Monday, and no reports were made of teachers attempting to strike.
Finch Walker is the education reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Walker at [e-mail]. X: @_finchwalker.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Multiple Brevard teachers investigated over chosen name issue