School policies across the U.S., particularly those that seek to keep students’ gender identity secret from their parents, have come under sharp criticism in recent years. For several educators, resistance to such policies has resulted in the loss of their jobs.

One individual in Indiana recently secured a six-figure settlement after being fired for speaking out against the district’s transgender support policy.

Kathy McCord, who worked for 37 years in education, filed a lawsuit in 2023 following her termination for discussing the South Madison Community School Corporation’s transgender support plan with media outlets. “I am thrilled to see this case settled, but most of all I am grateful that Indiana law now requires the South Madison Community School Corporation to notify parents about a child’s request to change his or her name or pronouns,” McCord stated in a public release.

The district implemented a policy known as the “Gender Support Plan” that mandated employees use cross-gender names and pronouns for students without parental consent or notification—a practice termed social transition. This policy conflicted with McCord’s religious beliefs. After learning about it from a journalist, McCord spoke out in her personal capacity. School officials convened multiple meetings with her over weeks before the school board voted to fire her.

McCord emphasized that she spoke out because she believed parents should be involved in their children’s education and well-being. “I loved and cared for students for over 37 years,” she said. “Despite decades of success as a teacher and school counselor, I was fired after simply expressing my beliefs on an important topic, which were different than the school district’s. No public-school employee should be fired for expressing her personal beliefs or be forced to lie to students or parents.”

Alliance Defending Freedom represented McCord in the lawsuit, arguing the district violated free speech and parental rights by implementing a policy that did not require parental consent or notification. The settlement resolved the dispute without further legal proceedings.