A Kansas middle school teacher was suspended under the district’s bullying policies after she rejected the preferred pronouns of a biologically female student. Arguing that her religious beliefs were “actively violated,” and that only God assigns genders at birth, the teacher sued the district and ultimately won a significant 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 worked at Fort Riley Middle School in Kansas since 2005, was suspended after “addressing a biologically female student by the student’s legal and enrolled last name,” according to NBC.
Even after a school counselor informed her that the student preferred a different first name, Ricard prioritized her faith.
Believing that God assigns gender at birth and that using language contrary to a student’s biological sex “actively violates” her religious commitments, Ricard declined to use the student’s preferred first name and instead addressed the student by their last name, preceded by the gendered title “miss.”
According to the Associated Press (AP), Ricard believed she had found a compromise that respected both the student and her religious convictions.
‘Bullying’
Though neither the school nor the district had a formal policy on gender pronouns at the time, Ricard was suspended under the district’s “bullying and diversity and inclusion policies.”
This did not sit well with the retired teacher, who requested a “religious exemption to the policy” three times, arguing that her “beliefs were never accommodated,” according to a federal lawsuit she filed in 2022.
The lawsuit claims the Geary County School District “violated her constitutional rights” to free speech, free exercise of religion, due process, and equal protection. It also states that “her Christian beliefs” were not considered “when [the district] suspended her for three days.”
Additionally, the filing alleges that teachers were “told to conceal a student’s preference by using legal names when addressing parents, if that was the student’s wish.”
“No school district should ever force teachers to willfully 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 — which filed the lawsuit alongside Ricard’s attorneys at the Kriegshauser Ney Law Group.
Josh Ney, one of her attorneys, told AP: “Our suit contends that schools cannot force teachers to promote novel views about gender fluidity and ever-expanding pronoun categories without regard to the First Amendment or due process.”
He added, “Throughout her career, Ms. Ricard has consistently treated every student in her classroom with respect and dignity; unfortunately, the school district has not treated Ms. Ricard with similar good faith or basic fairness.”
‘Absurdity and deception’
Only six months after suing the district for 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 completely avoid using a child’s name during a parent-teacher conference in order to hide new names and genders being used by the school for a child in a classroom. Absurdity and deception has its limits, especially in federal court,” Ney said. He added that after the ruling, the district revoked the parental communications policy that prioritized student requests over parental awareness.
He continued, “I’m glad the case clarifies the financial stakes for school boards if they attempt to force teachers to lie to parents about their students.”
What the public says
Social media users rallied behind Ricard, widely offering support and praise for the teacher the district attempted to discipline.
“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 the settlement.
Another added, “Thankful for this teacher for standing up for what’s right,” while a third said, “Horrible! So glad she won her right to be a woman of honor and trust.”
As part of the settlement, the district cleared Ricard’s record and issued a statement confirming she was in good standing with no disciplinary actions. Ricard retired the same year she filed the lawsuit.
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