The Florida Department of Education has issued a statement in response to a situation at a Hernando County school involving a transgender teacher named Alexander (“Ashlee”) Renczkowski who allegedly made inappropriate remarks to students, according to a report from The Post Millennial.
The statement, released on Friday, clarified that the teacher and biological male had been removed from the school.
“Upon the Department bringing the concern to the Superintendent Wednesday evening, only then did the district remove the teacher from school, effective yesterday, Thursday, April 13. Therefore, the teacher is no longer at the school.”
The school district claimed the teacher’s comments were made in frustration with student behavior but did not provide further details.
The incident first came to light on March 24 when a school resource officer was called to investigate reports from Assistant Principal Kerry Thornton and Guidance Counselor Kimberly Walby, according to Post Millennial.
They claimed a teacher had made statements about self-harm and potentially harming students.
Moms for Liberty Hernando County obtained a report revealing that Thornton visited Renczkowski’s classroom to check on her well-being.
Renczkowski admitted to being “not good” and having negative thoughts.
Subsequently, Walby accompanied Renczkowski to her office, where the teacher explained they had found a social media post containing derogatory comments about their sexual orientation and that of their wife, who also taught at the school.
Renczkowski confessed to having suicidal thoughts and mentioned the presence of three handguns at their home.
The teacher assured the resource officer that she had no intention of harming students.
Some parents claim the school has not been transparent in the matter.
Jacqueline Gioiosa, a mother whose daughter was in Renczkowski’s class, said, “The school didn’t say anything. I found out this Easter weekend when I read the article that came out.”
The parents say the school didn’t inform them of what happened until 17 days after the report was filed.
Hernando County Sheriff’s Office stated: “On 03-24-23, the HCSO was notified of, and did investigate, an event at Fox Chapel Middle School. The investigation revealed that no criminal offense(s) occurred; therefore, no arrest(s) could be made. Further, deputies found that the individual did not, at that moment, meet the required criteria for involuntary commitment under the Baker Act.”