More Florida teachers investigated amid ‘preferred name’ scandal

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – After a Brevard County teacher drew occurrence for calling a pupil by a “preferred name,” much teachers are present being investigated, according to the section teachers’ union.

On Friday, officials with the Brevard Federation of Teachers (BFT) told Local 10 Orlando quality spouse WKMG News 6 that the national is representing 1 specified teacher who was reported anonymously to the district.

“It is not wide what the societal media station was oregon who made the archetypal post, arsenic it was wholly redacted,” a connection from the national reads.

Last month, the schoolhouse territory announced that a teacher astatine Satellite High School, identified arsenic Melissa Calhoun, had knowingly called a pupil by a “preferred name” without the support of the student’s parents, which is a usurpation of authorities law.

After the parents came forward, an probe was launched into the incident, which resulted successful schoolhouse officials deciding not to renew her declaration aft it expires this month.

However, national officials explained that the teacher being investigated this clip astir is not from the aforesaid precocious schoolhouse arsenic Calhoun, though that teacher’s individuality has yet to beryllium revealed.

“We person heard that different teachers person received letters that they are being investigated,” a national typical wrote. “However, they person not reached retired to america for representation.”

News 6 reached retired to the schoolhouse territory to verify whether these investigations are taking place. A spokeswoman responded with the pursuing statement:

“The territory is required by authorities statute to analyse complaints. There are investigations crossed the territory connected a assortment of topics. We bash not merchandise accusation astir progressive investigations.

What I tin archer you is that frankincense acold nary different worker has received a missive of reprimand oregon different disciplinary enactment related to referring to a pupil by a antithetic sex individuality without parental permission."

Meanwhile, BFT representatives besides told News 6 that students person been pulled to marque statements astir teachers, though it’s not a caller process.

Former Brevard County School Board subordinate Jennifer Jenkins took to Facebook to remark connected the allegations.

“I’ve been told alarmingly that dozens of kids person been pulled into offices, having conversations trying to retired their teachers,” Jenkins said. “This is simply a week erstwhile kids are already dealing with trial anxiety.”

In an interview, Jenkins told News 6 that she had received a connection that section principals were being warned astir a genitor who was “specifically targeting teachers each crossed this county, taking pictures of screenshots of societal media posts and comments and replies that they made.”

Jenkins claimed that the territory is present targeting teachers who expressed nationalist enactment for Calhoun.

“They’re asking if teachers sermon sexuality, if they person banned books oregon Pride flags successful their classrooms,” Jenkins said. “They’re telling them that rainbow flags are amerciable successful Florida, and they’re not.”

No further accusation has been provided astatine this time, including what these different investigations whitethorn entail.

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