Teachers

A U.S. district judge Wednesday said a 2023 Florida law restricting pronouns that transgender teachers can use to identify themselves violates a federal civil-rights law — but the outcome of the issue might ultimately hinge on an appeals-court ruling in a Georgia case.U.S. District Judge Mark Walker sided with Hillsborough County teacher Katie Wood and a Lee County teacher, identified as Jane Doe, in finding that the state law discriminates in violation of what is known as Section VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. That section bars employment discrimination because of a person’s “race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.”

Last year, The School District of Lee County had 235 teaching vacancies but have since whittled down that number to only 45, meaning there will be a certified schoolteacher in every classroom.

District officials said every classroom will begin the new school year with a certified teacher at the helm.

A proposal designed in part to keep “identity politics” out of teacher-preparation courses began moving forward Monday in the Senate, with opponents arguing it could drive teachers away from Florida.The Republican-controlled Senate Education Postsecondary Committee voted 5-3 along party lines to approve the bill (SB 1372).

Dealing a blow to teachers unions, a federal judge has refused to block part of a new Florida law that prevents union dues from being deducted from workers’ paychecks.Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker on Friday issued a 40-page ruling denying a preliminary injunction sought by the Florida Education Association, the United Faculty of Florida and unions representing employees of the Alachua County, Hernando County and Pinellas County school districts and the University of Florida.

Faculty unions and a New College of Florida professor who was denied tenure have challenged the constitutionality of a new state law that did away with arbitration in university employment disputes.

In an effort to recruit future employees, district staff will be in the main lobby of the Lee County Public Education Center from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday July 24 to Friday July 28 and recruiters will have a table in the main lobby during the Back to School Rush event on Saturday, July 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The School District of Lee County is hosting a virtual recruitment fair Monday to fill several positions for the 2023-24 school year, including staff for two new schools.From 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., the district will be seeking to fill 400 teacher positions, 80 of which will operate new locations in Lehigh Acres.

Florida’s Senate voted 23-17 to pass legislation that will affect public-sector unions, especially teachers’ unions across the state. The bill would increase the required percentage of union members who pay dues from 50% to 60% for all public unions except police, firefighters and correctional officers. As many as two-thirds of Florida’s teachers’ unions would be decertified, preventing them from negotiating for salary and benefits for teachers, guidance counselors and media specialists. The Senate is controlled by Republicans. Teachers’ unions have traditionally supported Democratic policies and candidates in Florida. The same lawmaker who proposed the bill also sponsored another bill this year – which has not been taken seriously and is stalled in a Senate committee – that would effectively shut down the Democratic Party in Florida.

A high school teacher in Fort Myers is motivating and uplifting his students using the power of positive thinking. Visit Cypress Lake High School and the classroom of teacher, football coach, and self-published children’s book author, T.J. Nelson.