US EditionFormer school counselor receives $195,000 settlement in gender identity policy lawsuit
The district said it settled to avoid further litigation and to remain focused on students, while denying any wrongdoing.
- On Wednesday, the South Madison Community School Corporation agreed to pay $195,000 to settle a federal lawsuit filed by former counselor Kathy McCord, with the agreement finalized April 14 after three years of litigation.
- The district fired McCord in January 2023 after she spoke to the Daily Signal about a 'Gender Support Plan' requiring staff to use student-requested names and pronouns without parental notification or consent.
- McCord stated, "No public-school employee should be fired for expressing her personal beliefs," while South Madison claimed it settled to avoid litigation costs, asserting the court made no findings of liability against the district.
- Indiana law now requires schools to notify parents of name or pronoun change requests, prompting South Madison to rescind its directive—a shift McCord said was essential for parental involvement in child welfare decisions.
- Similar disputes nationwide, including $650,000 in Brownsburg and $360,000 in California settlements, reveal significant financial risks for districts maintaining policies excluding parents from student identity discussions.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Indiana School Counselor Awarded $200K After Firing for Opposing Gender Identity Policy
An Indiana school district has agreed to pay close to $200,000 to resolve a legal dispute with a counselor who was dismissed after speaking out against a student gender identity policy. Kathy McCord filed a lawsuit against the South Madison Community School Corporation after she was terminated for declining to comply with a policy requiring staff to withhold from parents information about a child identifying as the opposite sex at school.
Indiana School Counselor Wins Free Speech Victory Over District's 'Gender' Policy
An Indiana school district agreed to pay $195,000 to settle with a school counselor who was fired for speaking to a journalist about the district policy of hiding students “gender identity” from parents. The case involved Kathy McCord, a 37-year education veteran who objected to the school’s mandate “which required her to speak in ways that violate her sincerely held religious beliefs,” reported Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). The Christian le…
School counselor awarded nearly $200K over firing for opposing trans policy
An Indiana school district has agreed to pay nearly $200,000 to settle a complaint from a counselor who was fired for publicly opposing a gender identity student policy. #KathyMcCord #DailySignal #students #gender #transgender #education #FirstAmendment
Madison County schools pay nearly $200,000 to fired counselor who spoke out about student gender identity policy
(WXIN/WTTV) — A central Indiana school district has reportedly agreed to pay a former counselor nearly $200,000 to settle a federal lawsuit filed after she was fired and accused of lying about student gender identity policies. Kathy McCord, a former counselor at Pendleton Heights High School in Madison County, had her teaching contract terminated in March [...]
The Western Journal
The Gateway PunditSchool Agrees to Pay Up After Counselor Was Fired for Objecting to Transgender Policy
A school in Indiana has settled a lawsuit for nearly $200,000 after a counselor was fired for her outspoken stance regarding the school’s transgender policies, specifically the lack of parental […] The post School Agrees to Pay Up After Counselor Was Fired for Objecting to Transgender Policy appeared first on The Western Journal.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 69% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
