BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Over a month after a Brevard County teacher was told she would lose her job after using a student’s “preferred nickname,” News 6 has obtained the investigative records that show what led up to it.
The incident kicked off in early March after a parent filed a complaint about what was going on.
Last month, district officials said that the teacher — identified as Melissa Calhoun, who taught AP English at Satellite High School — had called a student by the child’s preferred name.
However, the newly released investigative report sheds more light on what that meant.
“The parent informed the school administration of their student’s desire to transition from the female to male gender and their concerns that school faculty members were influencing and grooming this behavior by referring to their student by the student’s preferred male nickname,” the report reads.
According to the reports, Calhoun admitted to using the student’s preferred nickname despite not having parental consent, which is required under state law.
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Per the district, Calhoun was aware of the law, though she said that she didn’t know how to find a list of approved student nicknames, nor had she asked for help with finding it.
On the other hand, a district investigator noted that Calhoun claimed she didn’t have any “political intent” or “malicious intent” in using the student’s preferred name.
“Calhoun stated that she did make a comment to the principal, stating, ‘I can’t believe that this is what I go down for,’” the report continues. “She also made a comment and stated that she has never once had a conversation with the student about her ‘transitioning’ genders.”
Following a meeting with the principal, Calhoun privately pulled the student aside and informed the child that she would have to use her legal name.
[WATCH: One Brevard school board member pushed for Calhoun to get a “second chance”]
By April, Calhoun received a letter from the district superintendent, notifying her that her contract would not be renewed for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.
“There was no harm, no threat to safety, no malicious intent, just a teacher trying to connect with a student,” said Satellite High media specialist Kristine Staniec last month.
Meanwhile, Calhoun’s previous records show that she was rated as “highly effective” as a teacher, though violating state law puts her teaching certificate at risk.
“We understand that she is an effective teacher. But unfortunately, she violated the law. And we’re not going to reappoint her to her annual contract while her certificate is in jeopardy,” Superintendent Mark Rendell told News 6.
[WATCH: News 6 sits down with Rendell to discuss the violations]
According to the district, Calhoun’s current contract is set to expire this month.