A South Florida school district recently voted to suspend an employee for 10 days due to allegations of allowing her transgender daughter to participate on a girls' high school volleyball team, which was deemed a violation of state law.
The employee, an information management technician and volunteer junior varsity volleyball coach at Monarch High School in Coconut Creek, was identified as Jessica Norton. The Broward County school board approved the suspension in a close 5-4 vote, with Superintendent Howard Hepburn initially recommending termination.
Following the suspension, Norton will be reassigned to a different position within the district. The incident stemmed from Norton's transgender daughter playing on the school's varsity volleyball team, leading to a district investigation and subsequent reassignments of school staff members.
Florida's Fairness in Women's Sports Act, enacted in 2021, prohibits transgender girls from participating in girls' sports teams at public schools in the state. Monarch High School faced penalties for allowing the transgender student to compete on the girls' volleyball team, including administrative probation and a fine.
The Florida High School Athletic Association accused the school of violating state law and association bylaws by permitting a 'biological male' to play on the girls' team. Norton's daughter, who now attends school virtually, received a ban on sports participation through November 2024.
Norton, who maintained she had no involvement in the team selection process, expressed mixed feelings about the board's decision. She walked out of the meeting after a board member misgendered her daughter, emphasizing her love for her job and students.
The incident in Florida reflects a broader national debate on transgender students' inclusion in school sports, particularly in states with Republican leadership.
