TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Locals are speaking out after a Leon County elementary school teacher was re-assigned in light of a letter asking students to use gender-neutral pronouns when referring to the teacher.
A spokesperson for the Leon County School District says a mutual agreement was made Tuesday to transfer Chloe Bressack from Canopy Oaks Elementary School to a position in the adult basic education program.
This comes after a handful of students transferred from the class this month due to a letter Bressack sent, asking to be called "Mx. Bressack" and to use the pronouns "they," "them," and "their" when being referred to.
A local activist that works for the ACLU of Florida, says the county should stand behind Chloe.
"It is saddening and disheartening that, in 2017, we're seeing a school district shame and relocate a teacher who's done everything right in the classroom," said Lakey Love, a local activist. "We should be standing by gender non-conforming people, and that -- flat out, this should just not be an issue."
The Capital Equality Democratic Caucus also addressed the issue, in a statement saying in part, quote:
"The school district had an opportunity to demonstrate one of their core values – compassion and respect – and failed to do so.
We hope that the resolution that has been reached is appeasing to all parties, and that the teacher was not in any way pressured to accept a transfer as an alternative to punishment or termination."
You can find Superintendent Rocky Hanna's statement on the matter here.
