Florida School Employee Faces Firing Over Transgender Daughter's Volleyball

Jessica Norton, with her husband, Gary, speaks with reporters outside of a Broward County School Board meeting in Fort Lauderdale held on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. Norton, whose daughter played on the M

A Florida public school employee is at risk of losing her job after allowing her transgender daughter to play girls high school volleyball, which is in apparent violation of the 2021 Fairness in Women’s Sports Act. The employee's daughter, a 16-year-old student at Monarch High School in Fort Lauderdale, was thriving academically and socially before an anonymous tipster alerted school authorities about her participation on the girls varsity volleyball team.

The ensuing investigation has had a devastating impact on the teenager's life, leading to her withdrawal from Monarch High School and transitioning to online schooling. The employee, who has been a district employee for seven years with excellent performance evaluations, now faces potential termination for her role in allowing her daughter to play on the team.

The school board was set to vote on the superintendent's recommendation for the employee's termination, but the decision has been postponed. The employee's daughter, who began taking puberty blockers at age 11 and is currently on estrogen therapy, has not undergone gender-affirming surgery.

Despite the state law prohibiting transgender girls from participating in girls sports, the employee defended her decision, stating that her child simply wanted to play volleyball. The Monarch volleyball team members expressed support for the transgender student, emphasizing that her presence on the team did not pose any threat or disruption.

Daughter withdrew from school and transitioned to online schooling due to investigation.

Employee at risk of losing job for daughter's participation in girls volleyball.

Employee defended decision, citing daughter's desire to play volleyball.

Transgender daughter not undergone gender-affirming surgery, on hormone therapy.

School board postponed decision on employee's termination.

Community debates transgender rights and inclusivity in school sports.

The investigation into this incident involved multiple parties, including school officials, law enforcement, and state education authorities. The district's policy requires parental amendment of a child's birth certificate before changing gender on school records, a step the employee did not take until after she began working for the district.

As the situation unfolds, the community is grappling with the complexities of transgender rights and inclusivity in school sports. The employee's family is actively involved in a federal lawsuit challenging the Fairness in Women's Sports Act and advocating for the rights of transgender individuals.

While the outcome of this case remains uncertain, it has sparked conversations about the treatment of transgender children and the need for greater understanding and acceptance in educational settings.