Florida AG Seeks Teacher’s Dismissal if Allegations Are Proven

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has asked Sarasota County Schools to fire Pine View School teacher Liz Ballard and revoke her teaching certificate if allegations that she targeted an eighth-grade student over his conservative views are substantiated. The district says it is reviewing the matter and has not reported findings. In a letter to Superintendent Terry Connor and the school board, Uthmeier said his Office of Parental Rights received allegations that Ballard repeatedly involved the student in classroom political discussions despite his telling her that his parents did not want him to participate. Uthmeier alleged that Ballard cast the student as the conservative perspective in class, called him a misogynist and disparaged his father. Those claims come from Uthmeier’s account and remain allegations, not established findings. The supplied information includes no investigation results or response from Ballard. Uthmeier said that if the allegations are verified, Ballard’s conduct violated state law, school board policy and educator ethical standards. He asked the district to tell his office by October 1 what actions it has taken or plans to take.