A high school counselor in Indiana has secured a six-figure settlement after being fired by her school district for speaking out against its controversial transgender support policy.
Kathy McCord, who worked for 37 years as a counselor with the South Madison Community School Corporation in Indiana, filed a lawsuit in 2023 following her termination. The district required employees to begin using cross-gender names and pronouns for students without parental consent or notification—a practice known as “social transition.”
“I am thrilled to see this case settled, but most of all I am grateful that Indiana law now requires the South Madison Community School Corporation to notify parents about a child’s request to change his or her name or pronouns,” McCord stated. “Because of that, South Madison can no longer force other educators to lie and keep secrets about children from their own parents. When I spoke out on my own time in my personal capacity, I did so because I understood how important it is for parents to be involved in all matters of their child’s life — especially when their child is struggling. I loved and cared for students for over 37 years. Despite decades of success as a teacher and school counselor, I was fired after simply expressing my beliefs on an important topic, which were different than the school district’s.”
The lawsuit was supported by Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), which argued schools cannot compel employees to violate religious beliefs or fire them for speaking truthfully about policy. ADF Senior Counsel Vincent Wagner noted: “No educator should be fired for expressing her beliefs, especially when she speaks in her personal capacity, on her own time, and out of concern for her students.”
South Madison’s “Gender Support Plan” required counselors to document changes in pronouns without parental consent or notification. The district implemented the policy without consulting parents or posting it publicly. A court ruling has now confirmed McCord’s settlement, affirming that educators cannot be punished for challenging policies that withhold critical information from parents regarding their children’s gender identity practices.
