Her daughter played on the school volleyball team. Now her mother is suspended from her job.

Jessica Norton is a computer information specialist at Monarch High School, which her daughter attends. She was accused of violating Florida’s “Fairness In Women’s Sports Act,” which targets trans students and prevents them from playing in school sports. She has been on paid leave since November. 

The superintendent wanted her fired, but the board voted 5-4 to suspend her for ten days. One of the votes to suspend her came from LGBTQ ally Sarah Leonardi. She told OutSFL that it was the lesser of two evils.

“If she hadn’t been suspended, she’d have been terminated. People were disappointed and there were emails on both sides; very hateful emails, but there have been supportive communications, too.”

Maxx Fenning, founder of PRISM, which advocates for LGBTQ students, said, “While we are grateful that the Broward County School Board did not decide to terminate Jessica Norton's employment, the decision to suspend her for 10 days is disproportionate, unreasonable, but largely exemplary of the pressure school districts across Florida have experienced due to anti-LGBTQ+ laws in our state.”

The coach and other school officials were investigated, and employees have generally been cleared and returned to their jobs.