TAMPA, Fla. — This school year six laws, that some say are anti-LGBTQ, will go into effect. Among them is a law that largely prohibits discussions of gender identity and sexuality in all schools, for all grades. It’s an expansion of last year’s “Parental Bill of Rights in Education Act”.

What You Need To Know

  • A Merrimack College Teacher Survey found more than a third of K-12 teachers say they’re planning to quit within the next two years, because of a variety of reasons, including pay, but also concerns over these new laws

  •  The expanded "Parental Bill of Rights in Education Act” goes into effect this school year; it largely prohibits discussions of gender identity and sexuality in all schools, for all grades

  •  Some teachers are expressing concerns over new laws and how they'll be implemented

  • Get the latest back-to-school news going on in the Tampa Bay area

According to the Merrimack College Teacher Survey, more than a third of K-12 teachers say they’re planning to quit within the next two years, because of a variety of reasons, including pay, but also over concerns of these new laws.

One Pinellas County school counselor has more on the stress some teachers are feeling going into this school year. While away from school over the summer, Alex Quinto has stayed very busy. He recently got back from a conference for “AVID” schools, like his, Largo Middle.

“We are an AVID school, which is a college and career readiness school,” Quinto said.

Quinto was also honored as Educator of the Year. The award ceremony was in New York.

“Educator of the year for GLSEN, so the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network,” he said.

Despite his teaching accolades, he says he has concerns heading into the 2023-2024 school year because of the expanded Parental Bill of Rights in Education Act.

“It’s very evident that I’m gay, so I worry that if I were to have a conversation, or a student were to ask me if I’m gay, how am I supposed to respond to that?," Quinto said. "If I do tell a student I am, are they going to go home and tell their parent I’m gay, and then I’m going to have to deal with them wanting to get me in trouble?”

Up until now, he says he’s never had to worry about being openly gay at work or at home.

“That’s my dad. He rode with me in the parade,” Quinto said, as he showed the pictures from this year’s St. Pete Pride Parade where he was the Grand Marshal.

Quinto says some of his students even attended to show their support, but he worries gay students may not have the same support that he’s had. 

“If I have to contact the home and say, hey, your child told me that they’re gay, on the phone, that parent could tell me, oh thank you so much for telling me, but I have no idea what that child is really going to go home to,” he said.

Quinto says it was thanks to educators in his life that he felt comfortable coming out in high school. And thanks to his own school counselor, he has this career now.

“I say it’s the best job in the world, and people are like, are you serious, and I say absolutely, then they find out I work with middle school, and it’s ‘oh bless you,’” he said, while laughing.

Although some days can be tough, Quinto says knowing he’s making a difference in his students’ lives keeps him going, and that’s something he doesn’t want to see change.

Quinto says administrators he’s spoken with aren’t exactly clear on how the new law will be implemented this school year. They all expect to learn more when teachers return.