A history teacher at Sarasota County’s Pine View School has faced four misconduct allegations investigated or referred to the district this year, as Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier calls for her firing over allegations involving a student.
Uthmeier weighed in against teacher Elizabeth Ballard, who he accused of calling an eighth grader a "misogynist” in a letter the attorney general sent Sept. 21 to Sarasota County School Superintendent Terry Connor and county school board members.
Uthmeier also posted his letter on social media. On X Uthmeier concluded, "If true, she should be fired and never teach in Florida again.”
Uthmeier demanded a response from school officials by Oct. 1.
Ballard’s recent disciplinary history was included in a five-page
letter sent Sept. 29 by school board attorney Patrick Duggan. Uthmeier’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the response from the School Board.
Attorney general 'way out of line,' union president says
But Jason Means, president of the Sarasota Classified/Teachers Association, said that Uthmeier was treading into a dispute that Sarasota school officials were already handling.
“This is way out of line,” Means said. “What the attorney general is doing is something that should be very concerning to every educator in the state of Florida.”
“What he says, compared to what actually happened, are two completely different things,” Means added.
A School Board Human Resources report showed that Ballard was dealing with a male middle school student who had been making a host of controversial comments in class, some involving abortion and others about assaulting women.
The HR report said there had been a “history of negative interactions,” between Ballard and the student or students, whose names were redacted.
In his response to Uthmeier, Duggan wrote, “In total there are four allegations of misconduct regarding Ms. Ballard - three of which the investigations are complete and a fourth in which no determinations have been reached.”
Tense times in the classroom
They include an episode that began in November 2024 and continued into the following school year. The investigation concluded that Ballard behaved in an “unprofessional manner” toward a student and “intentionally targeted them.”
In April 2026, school officials found that Ballard committed misconduct in office and that just cause existed for a three-day suspension without pay. A second investigation in February 2026 involving grading and comments made to a student was eventually closed after the allegations were not supported.
Another investigation which began in May 2026 involved allegations that Ballard made false statements about a student, resulting in the recommendation that she receive an additional five-day suspension without pay. She is currently appealing the punishment.
The final investigation, still underway, stems from a complaint filed Sept. 11.
Uthmeier lays out his version
While Duggan’s response included no details, Uthmeier in his letter to Sarasota school officials said Ballard, “routinely discusses political topics in her classroom.”
"After the student informed Ms. Ballard that his parents expressly forbid him to take part in these discussions, Ms. Ballard ignored the parents’ wishes and continued to engage this student as the conservative perspective in the classroom," the letter added.
Ballard reportedly "labeled this student a 'misogynist,' spread this label around the school, and openly questioned the suitability and influence of the student's father,” Uthmeier wrote.
While Uthmeier demanded swift action — even possible firing, county school officials are taking a measured approach.
“At this time no conclusions about violations have been made and as a result, decisions regarding discipline and reporting obligations are premature,” Duggan wrote.
But the county’s response stands in contrast to Uthmeier. The attorney general, appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and running in his first election this year, lashed out in his earlier letter, writing that the latest allegation against Ballard, “if true, that's "bullying.”
Uthmeier also sent a copy of his letter to Florida Education Commissioner Henry Mack.
John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Network’s Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jkennedy2@usatodayco.com, or on X at @JKennedyReport.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota Pine View teacher faced 4 misconduct cases before AG stepped in
