Latest news with #BrevardPublicSchools
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Brevard's Class of 2025 celebrates graduation
Seniors in the Brevard County Class of 2025 are celebrating as family and friends watch graduation ceremonies across the Space Coast. Ahead of the ceremonies, Brevard Public Schools Superintendent Mark Rendell wished students around the district a "bright and fulfilling future." "Graduates, as you step into the next chapter of your lives, remember that learning doesn't end with graduation," he said. "Embrace every opportunity to grow, both personally and professionally. Stay curious, be resilient, and don't be afraid to take risks. Your journey will be filled with challenges, but it's through these challenges that you will find your true strengths." This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Space Coast Class of 2025 seniors celebrate graduation
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Congrats! West Shore Jr./Sr. High Class of 2025 accepts diplomas at Melbourne graduation
On a hot spring evening, West Shore seniors accepted their diplomas at the Maxwell C. King Center on Eastern State Florida College's Melbourne campus. The commencement exercises took place May 21. Between May 16 and May 27, more than 5,000 high schoolers were set to graduate at 24 ceremonies around the Space Coast. Ahead of the ceremonies, Brevard Public Schools Superintendent Mark Rendell wished students around the district a "bright and fulfilling future." "Graduates, as you step into the next chapter of your lives, remember that learning doesn't end with graduation," he said. "Embrace every opportunity to grow, both personally and professionally. Stay curious, be resilient, and don't be afraid to take risks. Your journey will be filled with challenges, but it's through these challenges that you will find your true strengths." In addition to West Shore's ceremony, students at Astronaut High and Cocoa High were set to accept their diplomas on May 21. Finch Walker is the education reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Walker at fwalker@ X: @_finchwalker. Instagram: @finchwalker_. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: West Shore graduates accept diplomas at Melbourne ceremony on May 21
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Multiple teachers investigated in relation to use of student's chosen name at Satellite High
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 fwalker@ X: @_finchwalker. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Multiple Brevard teachers investigated over chosen name issue
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Yahoo
Palm Bay substitute teacher arrested for allegedly sharing inappropriate photo of himself with female student
The Brief A Palm Bay substitute teacher has been arrested after he allegedly shared an inappropriate photo of himself with a female student. Ajani McPherson, 27, was arrested on Friday at Palm Bay Magnet High. McPherson is facing felony charges and is being held in the Brevard County Jail with a bond set at $52,500. BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - A Palm Bay substitute teacher has been arrested after he allegedly shared an inappropriate photo of himself with a female student. What we know Brevard Public Schools officials confirmed with FOX 35 News on Saturday that a substitute teacher at Palm Bay Magnet High was arrested on Friday on the school's campus. Officials said the man was arrested after he allegedly shared a nude photo of himself with a female student. The school leaders have identified the man as 27-year-old Ajani McPherson. What we don't know It is currently unclear how young the female student that was shown the picture is. Officials have not clarified if there could be other possible victims. What they're saying Brevard officials said McPherson was not a coach, was "not a regular substitute teacher" and had not been with the school for even a month when the arrest happened. They said he is no longer employed by Brevard Public Schools. "We are deeply troubled by these accusations and (are) working closely with law enforcement as they conduct their investigation," school officials said in a prepared statement. "These actions are a tremendous violation of trust." What's next Records show McPherson is facing felony charges and is being held in the Brevard County Jail with a bond set at $52,500. FOX 35 News has reached out to the Palm Bay Police Department for more information on the investigation. This is a developing story. Check back later for more updates. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by Brevard Public Schools in an email on May 10, 2025, as well as information gathered from the Brevard County Jail.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
District says law forced Brevard teacher's job loss: What does statute say?
In the wake of a Brevard teacher losing her job as a result of using a student's preferred name without parental consent, questions have arisen about what the Florida law actually says. Does it ban shortened forms of students' birth names, or just names chosen based on a transgender identity? What kind of punishment is mandated for educators who break the law? Could the teacher in this case, Melissa Calhoun, an AP English teacher at Satellite High School, lose her teaching certification? It's the first known case of an educator losing their job as a result of Florida's ban on using students' preferred names without parental permission. Since Tuesday, students have rallied to support Calhoun. A gathering was held outside the school Thursday afternoon to protest her contract not being renewed, and an online petition gained more than 22,800 signatures by Friday afternoon. Students gathered after school at Satellite High Thursday to protest the non-renewal of teacher Melissa Calhoun's contract. Parents' responses were mixed. Some stood in support of her, while others said her actions were not only in violation of the law, but also parents' rights. Calhoun did not respond to multiple requests for comment. The parent of the student in question declined to comment. Here's what the law lays out — and how it came to be — and what the district and community are saying. District cites Florida statute in teacher non-renewal After an online petition began circulating Tuesday to reinstate Calhoun, Brevard Public Schools cited Florida law and parental rights as the reason behind her contract not being renewed. "Brevard Public Schools was made aware that a teacher at Satellite High School had been referring to a student by a name other than their legal name, without parental permission. This directly violates state law and the district's standardized process for written parental consent," BPS Spokesperson Janet Murnaghan said in a statement to FLORIDA TODAY. John Thomas, the only school board members to respond after multiple requests for comment from FLORIDA TODAY, echoed Murnaghan's sentiment, adding that Calhoun's teaching certification may be in jeopardy due to her actions. "Brevard Public Schools has a clear responsibility to uphold the law, respect parental rights and maintain a strong focus on academic excellence in every classroom," he said. "In accordance with state policy, when a potential violation of the law occurs in the classroom, the Florida Department of Education conducts an independent review of both the incident and the educator's certification. Renewing a teacher's contract while their certification is under active review would not only be inappropriate, but also unfair to our students and school community." Murnaghan said after the student's parent made an accusation that Calhoun was using an alternative name to refer to the student, the district conducted an investigation, during which Calhoun said she "knowingly did not comply with state statute." She was given a letter of reprimand, and the district opted not to renew her contract, which will expire in May of this year. In her statement to FLORIDA TODAY, Murnaghan emphasized the importance of parental rights. "BPS supports parents' rights to be the primary decision-makers in their children's lives, and Florida law affirms their right to be informed," she said. "At BPS our focus is on education — teachers are here to teach and support students academically. Our job is to work in partnership with parents and guardians to ensure student success." Thomas called it a "regrettable situation." "Regardless of personal views on the issue, the laws enacted by our state legislature must be upheld," he said. "It is regrettable when an individual chooses to disregard those laws — particularly when it results in serious consequences for someone who may have otherwise had a exemplary career. That represents a loss not only for the individual, but potentially for our students and the broader school community." Breaking it down: What does Florida law say? Florida first introduced legislation in 2022 limiting classroom instruction related to gender and sexual orientation with HB 1557, also known as the "Parental Rights in Education" bill or the "Don't Say Gay" bill. But it wasn't until the next year that they began legislating the use of chosen names and pronouns. It started in 2023 with HB 1069, which says no one at a public Florida K-12 school — including students — can be required to refer to anyone by a preferred personal title or pronoun if "such personal title or pronouns do not correspond to that person's sex." Schools must acknowledge that sex is an "immutable biological trait and that it is false to ascribe" a preferred pronoun that "does not correspond to such person's sex," the law says. Students can't be asked by educators to provide a preferred pronoun or title, though it doesn't say they can't voluntarily provide these. The law, signed into law in May of that year, said it was up to the Florida Board of Education to adopt rules to administer this guidance, as well as other LGBTQ-related issues addressed within the text. The board's rules, also signed into law in 2023, did just that: They created rules targeting LGBTQ students and school employees, from stymying classroom instruction around sexual orientation and gender to the use of bathrooms. As for pronouns and personal titles, starting in the 2023-2024 school year, students were required to get parental consent via a signed form if they wanted 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. In the Brevard case, students and community members believed the student wanted to go by a name related to a transgender identity. Another rule said educators were not allowed to go by personal titles or pronouns that did not correspond with their sex assigned at birth — a rule that has been partially blocked by a federal judge after teachers sued multiple parties including the state department of education, Hillsborough County School Board, Lee County School Board and Florida Virtual School Board of Trustees. This law did not say students could not go by a preferred pronoun. Trump pushing for national ban on preferred names In an executive order issued Jan. 29 titled "Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling," President Donald Trump laid the groundwork for how the nation may see anti-trans rules in education similar to Florida's. The order does not supersede federal laws and statutes. Trump's order threatens to pull funding for numerous reasons in K-12 schools, including for "treatment and indoctrination" based on "gender ideology and discriminatory equity ideology." It also dictates that an "Ending Indoctrination Strategy" must include a summary on how federal funding directly or indirectly supports instruction or programs related to LGBTQ or other DEI issues in both student curriculum and activities and teacher education and training. The order says funding should be pulled from schools not only for instruction or "promotion" of transgender-related issues, but also if a school is found to have been involved in the social transition of a minor. Social transition does not include medical steps such as taking hormone suppressants, also known as puberty blockers, or supplemental hormones like testosterone or estrogen. Rather, it can involve going by another name and pronouns, wearing different clothing and being socially treated as the gender the person aligns with. The order also threatens to have Attorney General Pam Bondi coordinate with state and local attorney generals to "file appropriate actions" against schools and teachers who "unlawfully facilitate the social transition of a minor." Parental rights vs. the First Amendment Conservatives have been staunchly opposed to transgender students using a preferred name, particularly without a parents' knowledge, for several years. In Brevard, the birthplace of Moms for Liberty — a conservative group that touts itself as a champion for parental rights — the debate about the ethics of allowing a child to go by a chosen name has exploded since news broke of Calhoun's contract not being renewed. Brevard Moms for America, a chapter of a conservative group that calls itself a "national movement of moms reclaiming our culture for truth, family freedom and the constitution," has shared numerous posts to their Facebook page this week about parental rights and detransitioning, or the act of discontinuing gender-affirming care or attempting to reverse gender-affirming interventions. On Thursday, they shared a link to a Joe Rogan podcast with Abigail Shrier, the author of "Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters," a book that's come under fire for its endorsement of the concept of rapid-onset gender dysphoria, a condition that has not received wide scientific support. "In the midst of media fueled confusion, we share this powerful message about the importance of keeping parents in the driver's seat when it comes to our kids' education and well-being," the caption said. "Together, we can make a difference — because no one knows our children better than we do." At an April 8 Brevard school board meeting, a parent holds up a sign in support of a Satellite High teacher whose annual contract was not renewed after she called a student by their preferred name without parental consent. While neither Moms for Liberty's Brevard chapter nor the organization's co-founders Tina Descovich and Tiffany Justice have directly referenced the issue on their public platforms, on Tuesday — the day the petition for Calhoun's reinstatement began circulating — Descovich shared a Fox News article with a quote from America First League's Ian Prior, the law firm's senior counselor. "Students should not have their First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendment Rights sacrificed at the altar of radical transgender madness and the woke government bureaucrats that view the Constitution as nothing more than toilet paper should face the long arm of our Justice Department," Prior said, with Descovich sharing the quote. While he spoke against transgender students, others have questioned if Florida's laws targeting transgender students infringe upon the students' and teachers' First Amendment rights. ACLU of Florida issued a statement to FLORIDA TODAY late Friday, in which they said both teachers and students do not lose their First Amendment rights in a classroom setting. "Requiring a signed permission slip to call a student anything other than their legal name is just one example of Florida's government overreach," the organization said. "But if school districts are arbitrarily disciplining teachers for this 'infraction,' it would raise constitutional concerns of viewpoint discrimination." The statement went on to detail that if teachers who use shortened forms of students' birth names are not punished as Calhoun was for using a name related to a student's gender identity, there may be an issue of viewpoint discrimination from the district. During a rally at the school, Robert Jones, a parent of a Satellite High student, said he felt the whole issue violated the student's rights. "I've always been of the perspective that the Constitution protects children as well as adults," Jones said. "It honestly seems like a basic violation of the First Amendment and freedom of speech." In a joint press release from Youth Action Fund, Moms for Libros, National Parents Union, Defense of Democracy and Our Florida, Florida Defense of Democracy's Volunteer State Director Amy Roub said Calhoun was upholding "the core values of inclusivity and respect that every learning environment should foster" — and that she was punished for doing so. "Ms. Calhoun stood up for her student," Roub said. "Now it's time for us to stand up for her." Finch Walker is the education reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Walker at fwalker@ X: @_finchwalker. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: What does Florida law say on teachers calling students by chosen names?
