Florida Attorney General calls for firing of Sarasota teacher

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(The Center Square) –A Sarasota teacher under fire for allegedly bullying an eighth-grader over his political affiliation previously opposed the founding of a Turning Point USA club at the school.

Attorney General James Uthmeier released a letter Tuesday where he called on Superintendent Terry Connor and the School Board Sarasota County to fire Pine View School history teacher Liz Ballard.

According to the letter, Ballard “harassed, disparaged, and deliberately tried to cancel” a student for his conservative views.

After the student’s parents expressed that they did not want their son engaging in politically charged topics in the classroom, Ballard ignored the parents’ wishes, Uthmeier said.

She went on to label the student a “misogynist,” spread the label around the school, and questioned the suitability and influence of his father, according to the attorney general.

“Ms. Ballard singled out this student and, in defiance of his parents’ express instructions, pressured him to defend political positions on demand in front of his classmates,” Uthemier said. “She made disparaging remarks about his father. And by facilitating the spread of a damaging label throughout the school, she engaged in the reputational destruction of a child. Ms. Ballard’s deliberate bullying and harassment of this eighth-grade student violated Florida law, School Board policy, and at least six ethical principles.”

Ballard previously worked to prevent a Turning Point USA club from being founded at Pine View. In October 2025 she signed a letter that spoke against the club and called it a far-right attack on the classroom.

The founding of that club came just weeks after Turning Point Founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated.

“We recognize that the shooting of Charlie Kirk is fresh in the nation’s memory. We condemn political violence, and we feel for Mr. Kirk’s friends and family. However, his death should not keep us from an honest examination of the harmful, hateful, and most often blatantly false views expressed by Mr. Kirk and Turning Point USA, the organization that he founded,” the letter said.”

The letter was signed by a list of parents, students, and faculty members.

Last month, Ballard was listed as suspended. It’s unclear what the suspension was for. The Superintendent’s Personnel Report stated the eight-day suspension was effective Aug. 19.

Uthmeier has given Superintendent Connor and the school board until Oct. 1 to take action against Ballard by dismissing her and revoking her educator certificate.