A Kansas middle school teacher has secured a $95,000 settlement after being suspended for refusing to use a student’s preferred pronouns, citing her deeply held Christian beliefs.
Pamela Ricard, a math teacher at Fort Riley Middle School, found herself at the center of a national debate on gender identity, religious freedom, and school policies in 2021. Her suspension stemmed from addressing a biologically female student by their last name, despite being informed of the student’s preferred first name.
Ricard, citing her Christian faith, believed that gender is assigned by God at birth. She attempted to find a compromise by addressing the student with their last name, prefixed with the title “Miss.” However, the school district suspended her under its “bullying and diversity and inclusion policies,” despite lacking formal guidelines on gender pronouns at the time.
The Christian teacher sought a religious exemption, which was denied multiple times. In response, she filed a federal lawsuit in 2022, arguing that the Geary County School District had violated her constitutional rights, including free speech, religious exercise, and due process.
The lawsuit also revealed that teachers were allegedly instructed to conceal a student’s preferred name and pronouns from parents if requested by the student. Ricard’s legal team argued that forcing educators to adopt policies on gender fluidity without regard to the First Amendment infringed upon their rights.
The case concluded with a significant victory for Ricard, resulting in a $95,000 settlement just six months after filing. The district also agreed to expunge her record and acknowledged her good standing as an educator. Additionally, the school board revoked its policy requiring teachers to conceal students’ preferences from their parents.
Ricard’s attorney, Josh Ney, emphasized her commitment to treating every student with dignity throughout her career. He criticized the district for failing to extend the same fairness and respect to Ricard during the controversy. Ricard retired the same year she filed the lawsuit, leaving behind a legacy of standing firm for her beliefs.
