Substitute Duval teacher fired after ‘fake narrative’ empty bookshelves video

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (FLV) – Nearly three weeks after a substitute teacher at Mandarin Middle School in Duval County posted a video that went viral depicting empty bookshelves in the school’s library, he was fired.

On Jan. 27, Brian Covey posted a video that Gov. Ron DeSantis called a “fake narrative,” with rows of empty bookshelves and made it seem as though there were no reading materials for students.

Covey shared the video after Florida lawmakers passed HB 1467, which required media specialists go through approved training to brush up on Florida law before approving books for classrooms and libraries. The training materials highlight Florida laws, including one where it is a third-degree felony for “any adult” to distribute pornographic materials to minors.

First Coast News asked DeSantis about Covey’s video and he said it was a “fake narrative.”

“Actually you know that video, that was a fake narrative, that was not true [….] It’s all politically motivated but what the Department of Education, I’ve asked them, I said, talk to these school districts, tell them, are there books that are problematic? Are you really removing? And make them justify what they’re doing,” DeSantis said.

Nearly three weeks after Covey shared the video, he was fired.

First Coast News reported a statement they received from DCPS regarding Covey’s termination:

In discussion between the district and ESS regarding this individual’s misrepresentation of the books available to students in the school’s library and the disruption this misrepresentation has caused, it was determined that he had violated social media and cell phone policies of his employer. Therefore, ESS determined these policy violations made it necessary to part ways with this individual.

The Florida Department of Education said teachers’ unions are scaring teachers after confusion erupted regarding the current law where adults can face a third-degree felony for providing minors with sexual material.

Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. said there are “false narratives” circulating after some Florida school libraries removed books from the shelves following new training material for media specialists.

“It’s unfortunate that certain media continue to spread lies and scare teachers for no reason,” Diaz said.

Duval County School officials urged educators to follow the new law and many teachers removed and covered books in classrooms to ensure all books were approved by the state.

“We did direct teachers to temporarily reduce their classroom library collections to titles that were previously approved while waiting for media specialists to curate a more expansive list of approved titles,” DCPS Superintendent Diana Greene stated in a letter to district employees. “However, at no time should a classroom have been without reading resources.”