Kansas City student teacher’s claim their gender-neutral pronouns are “too personal”

In a complaint filed on Tuesday, a nonbinary student teacher argues that the Fort Osage School District refused to hire them due to their gender identification.

According to the complaint, University of Missouri-Columbia student instructor Olivia Jackson identified oneself using their chosen pronouns at Fort Osage High School and utilized gender-neutral pronouns for nonbinary pupils.

The complaint contends that the Fort Osage School District unjustly discriminated against Jackson and violated their First Amendment rights by withdrawing them from student teaching, denying them employment, and canceling a replacement teaching assignment.

Doug Schreiner, Jackson’s attorney, stated that cases often involve professors who refuse to use gender-neutral pronouns when asked by pupils.

“This instance illustrates the opposite circumstance. Olivia, a student teacher, was disciplined for using their own chosen pronouns and obeying the requests of many kids to use gender-neutral pronouns,” according to Schreiner. “We think the School District’s actions stifled Olivia’s ability to openly express their gender identity, as well as those of other classmates, and most importantly, are not conducive to a secure and pleasant learning environment.”

A spokesman for the school system stated in an emailed statement that the district had only been aware of the complaint and had begun evaluating it. In addition, they stated that the district is an equal opportunity employer and hires teachers based on their abilities to serve kids regardless of gender or gender identity.

Jackson was assigned to Blue Hills Elementary School for the first few months of 2021, where they reported having a pleasant student teaching experience under their mentor teacher Nathan Gearke. For the second part of the semester, they were assigned to teach vocal music at Fort Osage High School as student teachers.

According to the complaint, the district’s discriminatory actions began when Jackson announced themselves and their chosen pronouns at their high school and followed their college curriculum by utilizing gender-neutral pronouns for students who also identified as nonbinary.

According to the complaint, Jackson’s mentor teacher, Julie Ammons, informed him that the manner they introduced themselves was “unnecessary” since “you can determine if someone is male or female just by looking at them.”

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Teacher Against Gender-Neutral Pronouns

Jackson was not permitted to identify themself to another class, and Ammons refused to recognise Jackson’s non-binary gender for the duration of Jackson’s student teaching at Fort Osage High School, according to the lawsuit. In April, Gearke informed Jackson that he would be quitting his post as a teacher at Blue Hills Elementary School and that they should apply for the position.

The complaint claims that during an interview for the post, principal Monica Shane texted Jackson and said, “I want to employ you!” According to the lawsuit, Gearke also requested that Jackson serve as a substitute teacher at Blue Hills Elementary School for the final two weeks of the school year during his absence.

The lawsuit states that on May 4, Ammons communicated with Jackson’s university advisor. According to the complaint, Ammons stated many some at the school were uncomfortable with Jackson’s usage of gender-neutral pronouns to refer to themselves and non-binary kids, but lauded their teaching skills.

The complaint states that Ammons wrote an email to Jackson later that day, requesting that she draft the program for the forthcoming scholarship performance and arrange her music library during class. According to the lawsuit, Ammons reportedly stated that she would instruct and direct all classes, essentially relieving Jackson of her teaching responsibilities.

On May 7, Jackson was summoned to a meeting with Ammons and the school’s activities director, Ryan Schartz. At the discussion, Schartz allegedly stated that Jackson’s use of gender-neutral pronouns was “too personal” and “too political” and that Jackson was “hired to teach pupils solely.”

Following this discussion, the complaint claims Jackson was not permitted to instruct students or do their college capstone project, a scholarship concert on May 11.

Jackson received a phone call from Shane on May 12 informing them that the Fort Osage School Board denied their application for the post of music teacher at Blue Hill Elementary School based on a report submitted by Schartz. Shane informed Jackson that they were not permitted to perform the concert due to the problems mentioned by Schartz at the May 7 meeting.

The complaint also says that Shane and Ammons had a communication on May 17 regarding Jackson in which Ammons claimed Jackson would be an excellent teacher, but she was concerned about his mental health — and that Shane would need to be “in the classroom frequently to monitor how pupils are handled.”

Shane informed Jackson on the same day that she supported their candidacy for the teaching post, but that the school board would continue to deny their employment. The complaint claims that Jackson’s replacement teaching position at Blue Hills Elementary School was also terminated.

According to the lawsuit, Jackson will seek compensation for the emotional anguish caused by the district’s prejudice. The complaint argues that since Jackson believed they had secured a teaching post at Blue Hills Elementary, they ceased their job search and lost “the chance to apply for the most desired and well-paid employment available.”

Teachers in Missouri who identify as LGBTQ are anxious about how they may present themselves in the classroom due to a measure that would prohibit the topic of gender and sexual orientation. The law is larger than the “Don’t Say Gay” bill enacted in Florida last year; it includes grades K-12 and only permits the discussion of gender or sexual orientation with parental approval and the supervision of a registered mental health professional.