Commissioner of Education files Administrative Complaint against Talbot Elementary teacher
BY JENNIFER CABRERA
Updated at 4 p.m. with quote from Governor DeSantis
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas has filed an Administrative Complaint against Emily Caylen Grace, a teacher at Talbot Elementary, seeking sanctions against her educator’s certificate.
According to the complaint, Grace is employed as a Resource Teacher at Talbot, and during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years, she allegedly violated Florida statutes and rules when she “asked and/or encouraged and/or failed to correct elementary students addressing her using the non-binary prefix Mx rather than Ms. or Mrs. as appropriate for [Grace’s] sex as determined at birth.”
In a social media post today, Kamoutsas wrote, “No school teacher can make elementary school kids use fake pronouns in Florida. This isn’t hard.”
Attorney General James Uthmeier wrote, “We enforce our laws here in Florida. There is zero tolerance for teachers who want to play in the pronoun Olympics and force dangerous ideology on our kids.”
Governor Ron DeSantis wrote, “We are not running the pronoun Olympics in the state of Florida.”
According the the complaint, Grace “has violated the Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession prescribed by the State Board of Education rules.” Kamoutsas also separately alleged that Grace violated an administrative rule that relates to the use of personal titles and pronouns in educational institutions.
The complaint asks the Education Practices Commission to impose an appropriate sanction against Grace’s educator’s certificate; those sanctions may include a written reprimand, placing Grace on probation, restricting Grace’s authorized scope of practice, assessing a fine, directing Grace to enroll in the Recovery Network Program, or suspending or revoking her educator’s certificate, with the possibility of barring her from reapplying for a period of time or permanently.
The only action that needs to be taken at this point is a reprimand and a reminder that it’s against Florida Statutes.
Implying she should have her certificate revoked, suspended or a fine assessed is ludicrous. It’s uncalled for and not worthy of those extreme measures – UNLESS she had been warned previously.
Make sure the penalty is appropriate, NOT disproportionate.
Disagree. This law caused a media freak-out when it was passed, so there’s no excuse for a teacher to be unaware of the law. Even if that somehow happened, there is zero chance that every administrator at Talbot was also unaware of the law, so I would go in the opposite direction from your recommendation and discipline everyone in the administration along with the teacher.
Of course you would Hannah. This is the unfree state of Florida and you are apparently a volunteer in the mind police.
Meanwhile the governor is trashing our higher education system with his dictating Ron-centric curriculums by force.
For all those feeling revocation and/or a fine is appropriate, even if this is the first occurrence and it has finally been brought to her attention, what should be the appropriate punishment for a teacher leading their class in prayer or starting the day with a Bible verse?
For those who feel the administration should also be disciplined, what should their punishment be? (If they didn’t know it was happening?)
I just want to make sure everyone feels people should be treated fairly and according to their actions, and not because of political differences.
You voted: We used to say the pledge of allegiance and sing the national anthem and also have a moment of silent meditation when I was a kid in school …is that illegal now?
They still say the pledge, (in elementary schools), and even at board meetings.
P.S. Almost forgot, I don’t recall ever hearing National Anthem sung except at sporting events and there must be a lot of meditation going on – have you seen some of the school grade results?
I digress, meditation is allowed, 1 minute I believe.
Looks to be a lot of hypocrites out there or they just believe as a
certain board member does, “We live in a country of laws, but the laws aren’t always the right thing to do.”
Let’s just pick and choose the rules we want to follow today.
+1
For You voted’s first comment.
When you blatantly disobey the laws of the State of Florida, you should expect nothing less than the full repercussions, especially in Alachua County, which seems to be determined to be in the news for all the wrong reasons. Our top-paid Superintendent must hold an immediate mandatory meeting with all employees and remind them that we must follow every directive issued by the State. The schools can receive a live broadcast from her office after school lets out for the day; it’s been done many times before.
Follow every directive of the state??? Whatever happened to Free Speech … that #FascistDeSantis wants to obliterate?
Nope. Nobody has the right to tell you you can’t be called what you prefer, certainly not the Board of Education, bogus laws be damned.
Stop encouraging the damn FASCISTS!!!
Sieg Heil, Herr Fitz!
Does the teacher support boys in girls sports, or locker rooms? Should there be other multiple locker rooms for students who feel different any given day?
Why are we wasting money and time on these issues?
Think about your answer to the following questions:
1) Are the students being taught the curriculum they are supposed to?
2) Are the students learning and performing well in school?
3) Does using an alternative pronoun affect the teacher’s ability to do their job?
4) They allow children to use names, other than those assigned at birth, with parental approval. Do educators need a note from their parents to do the same?
5) Does this physically, or emotionally, harm the students?
6) Does (insert your religion) teach you to be accepting of others?
7) If this teacher saved the lives of their students from a school shooter, would you give a F*&k that they wanted to be called Mx., or would you just send hopes and prayers to Mr./Ms. family and friends?
All that these “laws” do is create division based on people’s inability to just accept someone for who they are. If it doesn’t ACTUALLY affect anyone, why does it even matter?
Next up, everyone will have to be referred to by their full birth name and nothing else. They’ll be no more Daves, Jim’s, Bills, Steve’s, etc. You can thank Ronald Dion DeSantis when that day comes.
That’s what they do now. Let me get back on task.
1) Don’t know. I graduated from elementary school a long time ago.
2) Don’t know that either, that’s student privacy.
3) Undetermined – see #2.
4) Shouldn’t. Just allow students to call them by their first name.
5) Undetermined as well. Depends on how and who’s raising them.
6) I’ll defer that to Hamas, Al-Qaeda and ISIS members.
7) Definitely wouldn’t care and would be thankful but I don’t think any potential shooter will say follow Mx ___ down the hallway.
Using your reasoning, that would make it okay for someone to speed down University Ave on a game day Saturday as long as the person speeding didn’t hit anyone.
Nope. Those laws don’t support your idea.
Put her double secret probation. What an Incredible waste of time, money and resources by the Toxic Trio trying to outdo each other. Isn’t “Olympics” a copyrighted word that isn’t allowed to be used for branding purposes ie “pronoun Olympics”, let’s punish that offense to the max as well. The clown car keeps on rolling. Heaven help us.
Heaven already helped! Explained that people are created MALE or FEMALE. Simple enough that a preschooler can tell the difference
Here is some biology for you, life isn’t all cut and dried and simple.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/16324-intersex
How common is being intersex?
An estimated 1 in 100 Americans is intersex. Around 2% of people worldwide have intersex traits. What does being intersex mean in my body?
Being intersex can present in about 40 different ways. The most common intersex traits include:
Combination of chromosomes: Everyone inherits sex-linked chromosomes from their biological parents. People who are male have XY chromosomes. People who are females have XX chromosomes. People who are intersex may have a mix of chromosomes, such as XXY. Or they may have some cells that are XY and some cells that are XX. Or they may have just one X chromosome (XO). Other combinations can occur too.
Mixed genitals and sex organs: A person who is intersex may have both ovarian and testicular tissue (ovotestes). For example, you might have genitals that are associated with being male. At the same time, you may have internal reproductive anatomy or hormone levels associated with being female.B
What happened to live and let live?
Invatado, we don’t need no stinkin’ facts here! This is the unfree state of Florida where do as the Governor believes or lose your job.
You claim to be a proponent of democracy (unless it’s at the state level – you always have a “reason” for your hypocrisy), but here you’re taking a law duly passed by the elected legislature and framing the violation of that law as simple disagreement with the governor. No, the teacher (and everyone else at that school who didn’t counsel her to stop) violated the law every day for over a year. If you don’t believe laws should be followed, just say so, but then you don’t get to pick which laws others choose to follow…
I’m glad Rosa Parks didn’t take that view. When a law is unreasonable and intrudes on personal liberties we have an obligation to resist. The State has discretion in how it chooses to enforce laws and this action and media circus is over the top ridiculous.
Coincidentally this came out today, worth a listen. Why the cruelty?
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-daily/id1200361736?i=1000737772657
Civil disobedience is a time-honored American tradition, but part of it is being willing to accept the consequences of breaking the law while the case works its way through the courts. You are all arguing that she shouldn’t face the consequences of breaking the law, which isn’t how it works.
This law has already been challenged, so she’s not breaking any new ground, just being defiant: https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/florida-teacher-pronoun-ruling-first-amendment-free-speech/
Hannah, which side do you fall on with ‘You voted’s’ inquiry about a teacher having prayers or Bible readings in the classroom?
May be a new age of enlightenment.
You can apparently opt out of any prayer or bible verse readings, but this teacher demanded these students address her as MX….. see there is a difference when an authoritarian is in charge…..
I don’t think teachers should be proselytizing in public school for any religion, but the Supreme Court has already ruled that this is protected speech: https://www.scotusblog.com/2022/06/justices-side-with-high-school-football-coach-who-prayed-on-the-field-with-students/
Also, “reading the Bible” is very vague. Back in the day, we read the book of Job in a literature class at Buchholz. I’m not against reading works from various religious traditions in school.
“Protected” is dependent on the setting. A classroom isn’t the same as a post-game prayer on a field in private, (although visible publicly), where other people voluntarily joined him.
Still, what should happen to a teacher who violates that law? Patiently waiting on your answer as to whether they should be punished or not.
Which law? Please quote the statute so we can see what it says.
You aren’t familiar with the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution, are you?
Maybe you should check it out since you provided a SCOTUS ruling that referenced that Amendment and Judges’ opinions. While you’re still thinking about it – is punishment warranted if a teacher leads prayer in class?
I’m just trying to determine if you’re deciding which laws warrant consideration and whether that is based on your political leanings.
The Constitution is implemented by laws/rules/policies, and laws/rules/policies have associated penalties. My opinion on the penalty is irrelevant because the penalties are already laid out somewhere. If you want to discuss penalties, please provide a reference to the Florida law/rule/policy that governs this.
Note that I never said teachers should pray out loud in a classroom, I’m just refusing to give an opinion on the penalty without knowing what has been previously decided.
Your opinion isn’t relevant? It is in this case. You took a firm stance against a teacher and her administration because it was against state law and your political leanings.
The perception is you’re punting because you, like others, don’t wish to display the hypocrisy since it runs afoul of federal law, but falls in line for you both politically and morally.
We’re discussing an article about a teacher who violated a law, rule, AND policy every day over two school years. The law and penalty are cited in the letter from the Ed Dept, so yes, I support the imposition of the penalty. There’s not even any doubt whether she’s guilty because lots of parents, who all support the teacher, confirmed the accusation in Facebook comments.
You brought up a hypothetical situation with no specifics, you can’t point to a law or penalties, and my refusal to opine on your hypothetical makes me a hypocrite?
That’s quite a position.
I did point to a law, the US Constitution, which by the way – is the bedrock of US law.
Thanks for the punt. Are you implying you decline to comment on any hypotheticals? Or is it just those that may portray you differently than you want? Thanks for the dialogue though.
In the meantime, if the shoe fits…
Hannah, the current SC is illegitimate, having 2 of it’s members forced onto the court against the will of duly elected presidents, who reflect the will of the people. The GOP Senate refused a hearing to Obama’s appointment in 2015 which was welll before a coming election and then crammed another presidents selection down our throats during an election – voting had begun – which that president lost.
While constitutional, it should be noted that 2 other judges were appointed by presidents who lost the popular vote, making this court the least representative of the people’s will in history.
Hannah, in a constitutional democracy – which America is – the “will of the people” is not all powerful but is checked by individual rights spelled out in the constitution.
Wondering if you checked the references cited for that “article”, or considered that maybe Cleveland clinic could put potentially be pandering? I noted that they said the article was reviewed. I did not take time to look at the reviewers but if they are medical doctors, PhDs, or anybody that’s supposedly understands what constitutes valid and reliable research… This is horrifying
People asking about or comparing this to a stance on prayer or bible verse reading in the classroom forgot that you can opt your child out of those things BUT when an Authoritarian Marxist is in charge, she DEMANDS the students address her as MX…. there is no option, no opt out…. She should be held accountable and if that means revocation of her teaching certificate, it wont keep me from sleeping knowing our kids are protected from Authoritarian Marxists….
I believe SCOTUS has ruled on the separation of church and state.
Not saying that can’t be changed, but…