Commissioner Diaz recommends sanctions on parent, coach who helped son play on girls’ teams

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. recommended sanctions against parent and coach Jessica Norton’s educator certificate for facilitating her son’s participation on girls’ high school sports teams.

Diaz “found probable cause” to sanction Norton’s education certificate, which covers the area of athletic coaching, according to a May 28 letter from Diaz to Norton, which was obtained by Florida’s Voice.

Norton worked as an athletic coach at Monarch High School in the Broward County School District. 

The complaint said during the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years, Norton “fraudulently completed required forms for enrollment in school and participation in school sports in that Respondent claimed on the forms that her child’s gender as identified at birth, was female.”

Signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, SB 1028, the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act,” prohibits biological male participation on an athletic team or sport designed for females.

Norton’s efforts to change her child’s gender have stemmed back to the second grade, as highlighted in the complaint.

The document said while her son was in second grade at Winston Park Elementary School, Norton “inappropriately requested and pressured” a staff member to change the child’s gender in the school data base from male to female.

In a statement, the Department of Education told Florida’s Voice they will “continue to safeguard the integrity of girls’ high school athletics.”

“Boys will never be allowed to play girls’ sports and any person that attempts to disregard state law and state board rule will face consequences,” a spokesperson said.

Penalties levied against Norton may include a reprimand, fine, probation, restriction of the scope of practice, suspension not to exceed five years, or revocation not to exceed ten years or the permanent revocation. 

The statute violation listed is one count of a statute violation of the Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession prescribed by State Board of Education rules. 

Additionally, there are two other counts/ rule violations listed: the respondent has “intentionally distorted or misrepresented facts” and “failed to maintain honesty in professional dealings.” 

The Education Practices Commission will now issue a final sanction.

According to the complaint, Norton has a Florida’s Educators Certificate which covers the area of athletic coaching and is valid until June 30.

Norton addressed the school board members on Tuesday at a public board meeting and claimed the district leadership “destroyed the life of an innocent 16-year old.”

Norton expressed her frustrations with the process and said they enrolled their child in a virtual school and had to “keep her safe during those incredibly scary early days when, because of the reckless manner in which this investigation was announced, her identity was outed to our community.”

Norton said the district leaders “should be embarrassed that they’re in charge of the lives of children seeing as they had no problem destroying the life of mine.”

“But you know what, it’s okay if I’m the villain in their story because I am the hero in my daughter’s story,” Norton continued.

DeSantis has previously spoken out on numerous occasions advocating for protecting girls’ sports.

“In Florida, girls have a right to compete against other girls in competitions that have integrity and that are fair,” DeSantis said. “You can’t have a biological male bud into these competitions and win the trophies. It’s wrong.”

In April, Florida and several other states filed a lawsuit challenging the Biden administration’s “overhaul” of Title IX, a statute originally meant to prevent discrimination on the basis of sex.

In a letter to superintendents obtained by Florida’s Voice, Diaz said the rule will not take effect until Aug. 1, and that the state “will fight this.”

DeSantis quickly vowed to battle the rule change after its enactment went public.