History teacher harassed, 'tried to cancel' 8th-grader for conservative views: Florida AG

A Florida teacher is under fire for allegedly trying to “cancel” an eighth-grade student for his conservative beliefs. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has issued a letter to the district stating that if the allegations turn out to be true, she should be fired.

The letter, sent on Monday to the Sarasota County school board and its superintendent, stated that “our Office of Parental Rights has been informed that a teacher in your school district has allegedly harassed, disparaged, and deliberately tried to ‘cancel’ an eighth-grade student for his conservative views.”

The letter centers around the alleged conduct of history teacher Liz Ballard, who teaches at Pine View School. Uthmeier said Ballard “routinely discusses political topics in her classroom” and has continued to engage the student in said discussions despite being told his parents have forbidden him from taking part. “Ms. Ballard eventually labeled this student a ‘misogynist,’ spread this label around the school, and openly questioned the suitability and influence of the student’s father.” 

“Despite multiple HR investigations initiated by multiple parents against Ms. Ballard, she continues to teach at Pine View School. Provided these facts are corroborated, and in the absence of any reason to question their reliability, Ms. Ballard’s conduct violated Florida law, School Board policy, and basic ethical principles for educators,” Uthmeier wrote. 

He said that Florida law prohibits bullying or harassment of students, school board policy prohibits the “discrimination and harassment of any kind” against a student, and that the Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida block teachers from harassing or discriminating against students on the basis of political beliefs, among other points. 

“A violation of these principles subjects a teacher’s education certificate to ‘revocation or suspension’; where the violation involves a breach, if true, of Florida law, the penalty is ‘revocation of the educator certificate.’ The facts here warrant that penalty.” 

“Ms. Ballard singled out this student and, in defiance of his parents’ express instructions, pressured him to defend political positions on demand in front of his classmates. She made disparaging remarks about his father. And by facilitating the spread of a damaging label throughout the school, she engaged in the reputational destruction of a child. Ms. Ballard’s deliberate bullying and harassment of this eighth-grade student violated Florida law, School Board policy, and at least six ethical principles.” 

“Based on the foregoing allegations, if true, Ms. Ballard should be dismissed and her educator certificate revoked,” Uthmeier concluded. He ordered the board to instruct his office by October 1 of actions the district has taken or will take on the situation. 

Jason Means, President of the Sarasota Classified Teachers Association, said the investigation into Ballard has gone on for several months. The association is representing Ballard in the investigation, per WFLA.

“She’s a great teacher at a great school, Pine View’s a great school,” said Means. “He might have, you know, overstepped his bounds a little bit. I mean, obviously it’s within the laws of the state of Florida, and I can see where he would say that he would have the right to send such a letter. I feel like that he might have bigger fish to fry.”

Ballard said on the letter, “What I read in that letter is not accurate at all compared to the actual investigation.”