Kathy McCord, a high school counselor with South Madison Community School Corporation in Indiana, recently secured a six-figure settlement after winning an ongoing lawsuit against the district over its controversial transgender support policy. The case gained national attention following McCord’s termination for speaking out about the district’s “Gender Support Plan,” which mandated that staff use cross-gender names or pronouns for students without parental consent or notification.

McCord, who spent 37 years in education, filed her lawsuit in 2023 after being fired for disclosing the policy to a journalist during an investigation. In her statement, she emphasized that the district’s approach violated both her religious beliefs and parents’ rights: “Because of that, South Madison can no longer force other educators to lie and keep secrets about children from their own parents.” McCord stressed that teachers should not be dismissed for expressing personal views on student welfare—a principle she upheld throughout her career.

The district’s policy required counselors to document instances where students were transitioned using cross-gender identifiers without parental involvement, a practice critics labeled “social transition.” South Madison implemented the rule without consulting parents or posting it publicly, bypassing standard school board procedures. McCord’s disclosure of the policy led to multiple meetings with school officials and ultimately a board vote to terminate her employment.

Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys represented McCord, arguing that schools cannot compel employees to violate their beliefs or silence parental concerns about student well-being. As ADF Senior Counsel Vincent Wagner stated: “No educator should be fired for expressing her beliefs, especially when she speaks in her personal capacity… Schools can’t keep secrets from parents about their children’s mental health and wellbeing.”

The lawsuit resolution marks a significant victory for educators challenging policies that restrict parental rights under the guise of transgender support. McCord’s case underscores growing resistance to school mandates that prioritize institutional compliance over student transparency and family involvement—a conflict she described as “harmful, radical gender ideology” requiring immediate reversal.