Teacher suspended for rejecting preferred pronouns wins big in court

A Kansas middle school teacher was suspended under the district’s bullying policies after she refused to use a biologically female student’s preferred pronouns. Proclaiming that her religious beliefs were “actively violated,” and that only God assigns genders at birth, the teacher sued the district and won a substantial settlement.

In 2021, Pamela Ricard found herself at the center of a national debate over gender identity, religious freedom, and educational policy.

The former middle school math teacher, who had been working at Fort Riley Middle School in Kansas since 2005, was suspended for “addressing a biologically female student by the student’s legal and enrolled last name,” according to NBC.

Despite being informed by a school counselor that the student preferred an alternative first name, Ricard prioritized her faith.

Believing that God assigns gender at birth and that using language contrary to the student’s biological sex “actively violates” her religious convictions, Ricard rejected the request to use the student’s preferred first name and instead called the student by their last name, preceded by the gendered title “Miss.”

Associated Press (AP) reports that Ricard thought she found a compromise that respected both the student and her religious convictions.

Despite there being no formal policy on gender pronouns at the time, Ricard was suspended under the district’s “bullying and diversity and inclusion policies.”

This didn’t sit well with the retired teacher, who requested a “religious exemption to the policy” three times, stating her “beliefs were never accommodated,” according to a federal lawsuit filed by Ricard in 2022.

The lawsuit outlines Ricard’s claims that the Geary County School District “violated her constitutional rights” to free speech, free exercise of religion, due process, and equal protection under the law. It also asserts that “her Christian beliefs” were not considered when the district “suspended her for three days.”

Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that teachers were instructed to “conceal a student’s preference by using legal names when addressing parents, if requested by the student.”

“No school district should ever force teachers to deceive parents or engage in any speech that violates their deeply held religious beliefs,” said Tyson Langhofer, director of the Alliance Defending Freedom – a conservative Christian legal group that filed the lawsuit alongside Ricard’s team at the Kriegshauser Ney Law Group.

Josh Ney, one of her attorneys, told AP: “Our suit contends that schools cannot compel teachers to promote novel views about gender fluidity and ever-expanding pronoun categories without regard to the First Amendment or due process.”

He adds, “Throughout her career, Ms. Ricard has consistently treated every student with respect and dignity; unfortunately, the school district has not treated Ms. Ricard with the same good faith or basic fairness.”

Only six months after suing the district for actively violating her religious beliefs, Ricard secured a $95,000 settlement.

“The Geary County School District unsuccessfully tried to convince a federal court that a teacher should entirely avoid using a child’s name during a parent-teacher conference to conceal new names and genders being used in the classroom. Absurdity and deception have their limits, especially in federal court,” Ney said, adding that after the ruling, the school district revoked the parental communications policy that prioritized students’ requests.

He stated, “I’m pleased the case clarifies the financial stakes for school boards if they attempt to force teachers to deceive parents about their children’s preferences.”

Social media users rallied behind Ricard, offering their support and praise to the teacher whom the district had tried to disgrace.

“This is just wrong. This teacher is not responsible for these silly and dangerous ideas. Glad she is standing her ground. Need more like her!” one commenter wrote on a Facebook post announcing Ricard’s settlement.

A second added, “Thankful for this teacher for standing up for what’s right,” while a third wrote, “Horrible! So glad she won her right to be a woman of honor and trust.”

As part of Ricard’s settlement, the district expunged her records and issued a statement confirming she was in good standing without any disciplinary actions. Ricard retired the same year she filed the lawsuit.

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