A Florida history teacher is defending her professional reputation after the state’s attorney general accused her of targeting an eighth-grade student because of his conservative political views.
Liz Ballard, who teaches at Pine View School in Sarasota County, allegedly identified the boy as the conservative perspective during classroom political discussions, called him a “misogynist” and criticized his father, according to a September 21 letter from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier.
Uthmeier has called for Ballard to be dismissed if the allegations are substantiated.
Ballard’s teachers’ union, however, has strongly disputed the attorney general’s version of events, arguing that it does not reflect the findings of an ongoing Sarasota County School District investigation.
“What I read in that letter is not accurate at all compared to the actual investigation,” Jason Means, president of the Sarasota Classified/Teachers Association, told WFLA while discussing the case.
The dispute has thrust a conflict inside a Florida classroom into a broader political controversy. Uthmeier is seeking Ballard’s dismissal and the revocation of her teaching certificate if the claims in his letter are ultimately confirmed.
Uthmeier, who is running for re-election, contacted Sarasota County Schools Superintendent Terry Connor and the school board after his Office of Parental Rights received allegations that Ballard had “harassed, disparaged, and deliberately tried to cancel” the eighth-grader over his conservative views.
The school district said it would examine the evidence and follow a fair process before determining whether any action was warranted.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has called for history teacher Liz Ballard to be fired and stripped of her teaching certificate if the allegations against her are substantiated
Ballard teaches history at Pine View School in Osprey, where she is accused of singling out an eighth-grade student because of what Uthmeier described as his “conservative” political views
Uthmeier’s letter said political issues were regularly discussed in Ballard’s history class.
The student allegedly told Ballard that his parents had specifically instructed him not to take part in those conversations.
Despite that, Uthmeier claimed, Ballard continued involving the boy in debates and cast him as the classroom’s representative of conservative opinion.
The attorney general said the conflict intensified when Ballard allegedly described the student as a “misogynist.”
Uthmeier also alleged that she repeated the characterization around the school and “openly questioned the suitability and influence of the student’s father.”
His letter stated that Ballard had faced “multiple HR investigations initiated by multiple parents” but had remained in her position at Pine View.
The attorney general acknowledged that the allegations had not yet been independently corroborated.
Nevertheless, Uthmeier said that confirming the claims would mean Ballard’s alleged actions violated Florida law, Sarasota County School Board policy and the professional standards that apply to educators.
Attorney General James Uthmeier detailed the allegations in a letter to Sarasota County Schools and called for Ballard’s dismissal if they are substantiated
Teachers’ union president Jason Means is representing Ballard and has challenged Uthmeier’s account, saying the allegations are “not accurate at all compared to the actual investigation”
He accused Ballard of singling the student out and pressuring him ‘to defend political positions on demand in front of his classmates.’
The attorney general went even further in describing the alleged consequences, accusing her of facilitating ‘the reputational destruction of a child.’
‘Ms. Ballard’s deliberate bullying and harassment of this eighth-grade student violated Florida law, School Board policy, and at least six ethical principles,’ Uthmeier alleged.
The letter cited Florida’s anti-bullying and harassment laws as well as professional rules barring teachers from harassing or discriminating against students because of political beliefs – and from intentionally exposing students to unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement.
‘Based on the foregoing allegations, if true, Ms. Ballard should be dismissed and her educator certificate revoked,’ Uthmeier concluded.
He gave the district until October 1 to tell his office what it had done, or planned to do, about the allegations.
The teacher’s union has offered a starkly different assessment.
Means said the union is representing Ballard in an investigation that has already been underway for several months and suggested Uthmeier’s intervention was unnecessary.
Sarasota County Schools Superintendent Terry Connor said the district will examine the facts, ensure a ‘fair process for all involved’ and take appropriate action based on its findings
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‘She’s a great teacher at a great school, Pine View’s a great school,’ Means told WFLA.
He acknowledged the attorney general could send such a letter but questioned the decision to intervene.
‘I feel like that he might have bigger fish to fry,’ Means said.
Sarasota County Schools which serves more than 44,000 students across 59 schools, confirmed Terry Connor as its superintendent on its current website.
Connor said the school system had received Uthmeier’s letter and would take the allegations seriously.
‘Every student deserves a classroom where they feel safe, respected, and free to learn,’ Connor said in a statement.
‘No student should face harassment, humiliation, or retaliation because of their beliefs or their family’s views.’
‘Respect for students and parents is fundamental to the trust our community places in our schools,’ he added.
But Connor also stressed that Ballard is entitled to a fair investigation rather than a conclusion being reached solely from the allegations contained in Uthmeier’s letter.
‘The allegations in the letter warrant careful attention,’ the superintendent said. ‘We will examine the relevant facts and records, ensure a fair process for all involved, and take appropriate action based on the findings and requirements.’
The district said it would restrict its public discussion of individual details because of privacy concerns, while insisting that would not diminish its ‘commitment to accountability.’
The district has not clarified Ballard’s current employment status.
