Florida

Florida teacher’s job status on hold for using student’s “preferred name”

Published

1 year ago

April 10, 2025

Florida teacher’s job status on hold for using student’s “preferred name”

A teacher in Florida has been told she won’t have her contract extended “until the issue is resolved with the state” after she referred to a child be their preferred name, rather than legal their legal name, without parental consent.

In response, more than 10,000 people have signed a petition calling for Melissa Calhoun, a teacher with more than a decade of experience, to keep her job at Satellite High School.

Newsweek contacted Satellite High School via email and Brevard Public Schools by phone for comment on Thursday.

Why It Matters

In July 2023, the Florida Legislature passed House Bill 1069, aimed at “woke gender ideology,” which among other things banned public school employees from referring to a student by a “personal title or pronouns that do not align with the person’s sex.”

In response, the Florida State Board of Education introduced a rule requiring parental consent for parents to use any name for a student other than their legal name.

A person carries a Stay Woke sign during a march to the School Board of Miami-Dade County to protest Florida’s new teaching standards on August 16, 2023, in Miami.

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

What To Know

In a statement, Brevard Public Schools chief strategic communications officer Janet Murnaghan said they had been contacted by a parent who complained that their child was being referred to “by a name other than their legal name” by Calhoun.

In response, it launched an investigation, with Calhoun admitting to the district that she “knowingly did not comply” with the rule on needing parental consent to change names in response to which she “received a letter of reprimand.”

Calhoun is on a 10-month contract that ends in May, and the district decided not to renew it “until the issue is resolved with the state.”

Prior to joining Satellite High School, Calhoun taught at neighboring DeLaura Middle School for 11 years.

As of 10:47 a.m. ET on Thursday, some 10,242 people had signed a petition on the Change.org website calling on Brevard Public Schools to “Reinstate Ms. Calhoun.”

The petition said Calhoun was being “punished merely for showing respect to a student’s choices,” adding that she “is an embodiment of what proper education should be: inclusive, understanding, and respectful of individuality.”

Florida House Bill 1069 also resulted in a number of books being removed from school libraries in the state because they allegedly contained inappropriate content for children, sparking condemnation from author Stephen King.

What People Are Saying

Kristine Staniec, another Satellite High School employee, at a school board meeting on Tuesday: “The teacher made a difference in her classroom and in the lives of our students, including my own child. She deserved more than a quiet exit. She deserved fairness, context and compassion.

“There was no harm, no threat to safety, no malicious intent, just a teacher trying to connect with a student.”

Joanna, one of those who signed the Change.org petition in support of Calhoun, wrote: “I extend my strongest recommendation for the reinstatement of Melissa Calhoun at Satellite High School. I have known her since she was 16 as a student in my classroom, and I have watched her flourish as a teacher in her adulthood, from her work at DeLaura Middle School where she inspired so many young people including our son, to her work at Satellite High School where she has not only poured her heart into teaching but also to developing strong bonds with students and their families. She truly is the best of the best. Please reinstate her. It is unquestionably the right thing to do.”

Brevard Public Schools chief strategic communications officer Janet Murnaghan, i “Brevard Public Schools (BPS) 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 when the parent reached out to us. This directly violates state law and the district’s standardized process for written parental consent…

“After the accusation was made, the district conducted a detailed investigation. Based on the teacher’s own admission that she knowingly did not comply with state statute she received a letter of reprimand. Teachers, like all employees, are expected to follow the law.

“The teacher is working under a ten-month contract that expires in May 2025. Since the state will be reviewing her teaching certificate based on these actions, the district decided not to renew the annual contract until the issue is resolved with the state.”

What Happens Next

Considering the support Calhoun has attracted, Brevard Public Schools will come under significant pressure to extend her contract at Satellite High School.

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Florida

Florida Lottery Mega Millions, Jackpot Triple Play results for April 10, 2026

Published

6 hours ago

April 11, 2026

Press Room

Florida Lottery Mega Millions, Jackpot Triple Play results for April 10, 2026

The Florida Lottery offers several draw games for those hoping to win one of the available jackpots.

Here’s a look at the winning numbers for games played on Friday, April 10, 2026.

Winning Mega Millions numbers from April 10 drawing

03-18-36-42-49, Mega Ball: 06

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Jackpot Triple Play numbers from April 10 drawing

13-18-21-28-35-38

Check Jackpot Triple Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from April 10 drawing

Midday: 11-16-27-31-35

Evening: 12-13-14-19-24

Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from April 10 drawing

Morning: 12

Matinee: 04

Afternoon: 02

Evening: 03

Late Night: 05

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win

Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.

Just the FAQs, USA TODAY

Winning Pick 2 numbers from April 10 drawing

Midday: 7-8, FB: 0

Evening: 1-6, FB: 7

Check Pick 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 10 drawing

Midday: 8-0-6, FB: 0

Evening: 5-1-8, FB: 7

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 10 drawing

Midday: 6-7-1-2, FB: 0

Evening: 4-3-9-0, FB: 7

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from April 10 drawing

Midday: 7-5-1-2-1, FB: 0

Evening: 1-7-9-4-3, FB: 7

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Where can you buy Florida Lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at any authorized retailer throughout Florida, including gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. To find a retailer near you, go to Find Florida Lottery Retailers.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes of $599 or less: Claim at any authorized Florida Lottery retailer or Florida Lottery district office.
Prizes for $600 to $1 million: Must be claimed in person at any Florida Lottery district office for games that do not offer an annual payment option.
Prizes greater than $1 million and all prizes with an annual payment option: Must be claimed at Florida Lottery headquarters, except Mega Millions and Powerball prizes, which can be claimed at any Florida Lottery district office.

You also can claim your winnings by mail if the prize is $250,000 or less. Mail your ticket to the Florida Lottery with the required documentation.

Florida law requires public disclosure of winners

If you’re a winner, Florida law mandates the following information is public record:

Full name
City of residence
Game won
Date won
Amount won
Name and location of the retailer where the winning ticket was purchased.

When are the Florida Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Florida Lotto: 11:15 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
Jackpot Triple Play: 11:15 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Fantasy 5: Daily at 1:05 p.m. and 11:15 p.m.
Cash Pop: Daily at 8:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 2:45 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 11:45 p.m.
Pick 2, 3, 4, 5: Daily at 1:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Florida digital producer. You can send feedback using this form.

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Florida

New details in nearly $200,000 Florida embezzlement case

Published

18 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Press Room

New details in nearly 0,000 Florida embezzlement case

Twenty checks were recorded paid to “Farmer and Irwin,” but Martin County Sheriff’s investigators reported the $85,410 in payments actually went to Alexandra Gonzalez and were used for personal expenses, including travel and retail purchases.

The details are in court records supporting the April 9 arrest of Gonzalez, 46, who is accused of embezzling nearly $200,000 in total from The Dune of Hutchinson Island Condominium Association and the Whitemarsh Reserve Homeowners Association.

Gonzalez, identified as a community association manager who worked for a property management company, was held April 10 in the Martin County jail on 124 charges with more than $1.2 million bond, records show.

Sheriff’s officials in February began investigating after association representatives reported the suspected fraudulent or theft activity, which at Dune of Hutchinson Island occurred beginning in October 2025 and at Whitmarsh Reserve started in February 2025, according to statements in records.

In the Dune of Hutchinson Island case, the owner of the property management company that employed Gonzalez told sheriff’s officials that Gonzalez “exploited the system by creating and altering vendor profiles, specifically a vendor identified as ‘Farmer and Irwin,’ to conceal fraudulent transactions,” according to records.

Checks — 20 in total representing $85,410 — recorded as payments to Farmer and Irwin corresponded to checks issued to Gonzalez, according to statements in records. The checks had a forged signature of a Dune of Hutchinson Island association vice president.

Meanwhile, in the Whitemarsh Reserve case, investigators found 39 checks totaling $111,980 fraudulently issued to Gonzalez. Investigators found Gonzalez “issued fraudulent checks payable to herself, and made corresponding false entries in the association’s accounting system to conceal those transactions…,” records show.

Investigators reported records showed the money was used for personal expenses, including travel, cosmetic and medical procedures and retail purchases.

In speaking with investigators, Gonzalez expressed regret and said she’d be willing to repay the amounts “to avoid legal consequences.”

Gonzalez ultimately reported going through financial challenges during the time when the checks were issued.

“When asked if her financial situation was the reason she issued checks to herself, Gonzalez admitted that it was,” records show.

Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com.

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Florida

NEWS 6 TONIGHT | Daily Florida News with Perspective

Published

1 day ago

April 10, 2026

Press Room

NEWS 6 TONIGHT | Daily Florida News with Perspective

If you need help with the Public File, call (407) 291-6000

At WKMG, we are committed to informing and delighting our audience. In our commitment to covering our communities with innovation and excellence, we incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to enhance our news gathering, reporting, and presentation processes. Read our article to see how we are using Artificial Intelligence.

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