Trans Florida teacher ‘Ashlee’ who allegedly said they were ‘going to shoot the kids’ then themselves remains in classroom despite parents’ complaints

Parents of students at Fox Chapel Middle School in Hernando County, Florida, are demanding answers from the district after a teacher made concerning comments allegedly made about harming children and themselves. Although the district investigated the comments and found them concerning, the teacher was not fired and is back in the classroom.

Several parents contacted FOX 13, with each sharing the same story that the teacher made comments about harming students and then herself.

The district stated that the comments were made out of frustration with student behavior, but refused to divulge exactly what was said, leading to tension between parents and the board. "While the teacher in question did make a comment to colleagues that was concerning," the school principal could be heard saying in a recording sent to parents on Monday. "Staff and law enforcement determined the comment was not an imminent threat to the campus, but was instead an expression of frustration at student behavior."

A sheriff’s office report from March 24, obtained by Moms for Liberty Hernando County, stated that a school resource officer responded to a report from Assistant Principal Kerry Thornton and Guidance Counselor Kimberly Walby, who reported that a teacher had made statements about harming themself and possibly shooting students.

Thornton told the resource officer that at around 3 pm, she was visiting classrooms and walked into teacher Ashlee Renczkowski’s classroom. Thornton asked how the teacher was doing, to which Renczkowski responded, "Not good, I’m having bad thoughts."

Thornton radioed Walby and said that Renczkowski was coming to see her. According to the report, "Ashlee walked to Kimberley’s office and started to explain that she learned about a social media post where people were talking negatively about Ashlee’s sexual orientation."

The post in question was in regard to Renczkowski and Renczkowski’s wife, Fawn Renczkowski, who also teaches at the school.

According to Fox Chapel’s staff directory, Ashlee Renczkowski teaches mathematics for grades six through eight, and Fawn Renczkowski teaches science for grades six through eight.

The report notes that Renczkowski is a biological male "but is currently in the transformation stage of becoming a woman," and that "Ashlee is taking hormone medications and is planning on having surgery over the summer."

Renczkowski expressed to Thornton of sometimes having suicidal thoughts, and when asked if Renczkowski has any access to firearms, the teacher revealed that there were three handguns at home.

"Ashlee explained that some students in her fourth period class were not performing to their abilities and how Ashlee seems to care more about their success than the students do," the report stated.

"Kimberly advised that Ashlee made a comment that she wanted to shoot some students due to them not performing to their ability. Kimberley advised that Ashlee immediately stated that she would never harm a student," the report added.

Thornton said that Ashlee did not appear to be in a crisis at that point.

The student resource officer stated that after taking statements from Thornton and Walby, they came in contact with Renczkowski, who when asked how the teacher was doing, said she was not doing good and having bad thoughts.

The report revealed that Renczkowski "experiences phases of depression and is on medication for depression."

"Ashlee stated that she has a therapy appointment on Monday, 03/27/2023, at 1800 hours with a new therapist that she is eager to meet. Ashlee stated that she was planning on letting a family member take her three firearms and ammunition for safekeeping," the report stated.

During a home visit, a deputy collected the three firearms and ammunition.

"I was told that the teacher had stated they were going to shoot the kids and they were going to then kill themselves," one parent said.

The district called in the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, which determined the comments did not pose an imminent threat.

Nonetheless, parents like Aramis Rosario remain uneasy and want the teacher fired. "I was told that the teacher had stated they were going to shoot the kids and they were going to then kill themselves," Rosario said.

"I just was very upset and furious at the fact that they would allow a teacher to still work here with students, knowing that she said that," Rosario said.

In October of 2021, Renczkowski filed a name change lawsuit in the state of Florida. In November of that year, the name change was finalized.

Ashley Belle Renczkowski's Instagram page was locked, but posts from a Reddit account with the same handle show the teacher celebrating transitioning and discussing feelings of anxiety and dysphoria.

In one post made by Renczkowski on Reddit, the teacher wrote, "First time being on a cruise as my real self. It’s wonderful to be me and enjoy the things I was scared of during my teens and 20’s. Dysphoria hits really bad at times but I know I have made huge progress the past year. Still feeling cute and beautiful. And my wife is extremely supportive right next to me every step of the way."