A Florida school employee may lose her job for allowing her transgender daughter to join the girls’ volleyball team. Triggered by an anonymous tip, the investigation has turned their lives upside down, revealing deep tensions over transgender rights in sports.
Florida Employee Faces Firing Over Daughter’s Volleyball Participation
A Florida school employee may lose her job for allowing her transgender daughter to play girls’ volleyball, criticizing those who exposed her child. Jessica Norton claims the investigation shattered her daughter’s life.
Thriving Student’s Life Disrupted by Anonymous Tip
Jessica Norton revealed her daughter thrived at Monarch High School until an anonymous tip informed a school board member of her participation in girls’ volleyball. This violated the 2021 Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, which bars males from girls’ sports.
Investigation Threatens Mother’s Job
The tip led to an investigation, putting Norton’s job as a computer information specialist at risk for allowing her daughter to play. Investigators also noted Norton failed to change her child’s gender back to “male” on school records.
Academic and Social Achievements End Abruptly
Norton shared that her daughter held significant positions like class president and homecoming princess before the investigation. This all ended abruptly, and the girl left Monarch High School.
Dreams and Future Plans Dashed
Norton expressed her heartbreak over her daughter’s lost high school experience. She described her daughter’s dreams of prom, senior traditions, and college extinguished.
Transition to Online Schooling
The girl now attends school online, a stark change from her previous active school life. The transition highlights the investigation’s impact on her education.
Board’s Silence and Employee’s Stellar Record
The board’s nine members did not respond to Norton, who has a seven-year tenure with excellent evaluations. This silence underscores the controversy surrounding the issue.
Transgender Rights Under Scrutiny Nationwide
Transgender children’s treatment has been contentious nationwide. Florida is among several states banning gender-affirming care for minors and transgender participation in certain sports.
Delayed Decision on Employee’s Fate
The board postponed the vote on Superintendent Howard Hepburn’s recommendation to fire Norton. A district committee suggested a 10-day suspension, but Hepburn overruled it without explanation.
Principal and Administrators Temporarily Reassigned
Monarch Principal James Cecil and three administrators were reassigned during the investigation but reinstated after student protests. The school’s athletic commission was fined $16,500.
Liberal County with Significant LGBTQ+ Community
Broward County, one of Florida’s most liberal areas, has a large LGBTQ+ community. The school district is the nation’s fifth largest, serving nearly 255,000 students across 327 schools.
Board Member Initiates Investigation
Board member Daniel Foganholi, appointed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, contacted the district’s police after receiving an anonymous tip about Norton’s daughter. Foganholi did not respond to requests for comment.
Legislative Actions Against Transgender Community
Since 2021, Gov. DeSantis has signed several measures targeting the transgender community, including the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act. The Nortons are plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit challenging this act.
Details of Norton’s Daughter’s Transition
Norton’s daughter began taking puberty blockers at age 11 and estrogen later, though she hasn’t had gender-affirming surgery. Her parents argue she had no athletic advantages and often sat on the bench.
School Records and Investigation Process
Following Foganholi’s complaint, Broward schools assigned officers to investigate and secured Norton’s daughter’s school records in a vault. Investigators interviewed school officials and volleyball players to understand who knew about the child’s gender transition.
Transition and Records Change Timeline
Norton enrolled her child as a boy in 2013, and the child transitioned in first grade. She requested a gender change on school records in second grade, but the district claims such changes require an amended birth certificate, which wasn’t done until 2021.
Compliance with State Law
Norton allowed her daughter to play volleyball despite knowing the new state law barred transgender girls from girls’ sports. She marked “female” on a permission form, explaining her daughter wanted to play.
Team Dynamics and Players’ Perspectives
Monarch volleyball players stated they did not change clothes or shower together, so there were no issues with Norton’s daughter. They knew or suspected she was transgender but did not see her as a threat.
