SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — With lots of changes happening in classrooms all over the state as students head back to school, the Spectrum News watchdog team is focusing on Seminole County and best practices for teachers following the new Parental Rights in Education law.

There were numerous questions and concerns after photos of a protest at Lyman High School against that law were covered up in the school’s yearbook. Now going into this school year, many want to know what guidance teachers are getting when it comes to putting the new law into practice.

Spectrum News pressed officials on the issue and got a copy of a PowerPoint presentation that was shared with administrators just weeks ago that lays out what school districts and teachers can and can’t do in the classroom.

Dan Smith says he is a student advocate at heart — he loves teaching.

“I’m average everything else, but I’m a pretty good teacher,” he said. 

After 30 years in the classroom, he’s shifting his focus a bit — he is now president of the Seminole Education Association and spends his days looking out for his fellow educators.

With new laws on the books, he said it’s important that local school administrators and state leaders inform teachers on best practices, especially with the Parental Rights in Education law, which many opponents call “Don’t Say Gay,” and the Individual Freedom law.

“We don’t really have a clear definitive — we don’t know where the line is … we know there is a line because of the statue," Smith said. "We just don’t know where exactly that line is."

On June 29, Spectrum News asked Seminole County School officials about the Parental Rights in Education law — specifically requesting copies of any emails, memos or messages sent to school district employees about the new law.

Nearly a month later, after a follow-up email, Spectrum News got a response on July 22, from an information services representative saying: “It’s my understanding that no emails, memos, or messages were sent to school district employees regarding this law.”

After following up with questions about how the law would be implemented, on July 26 Spectrum News received an email saying a PowerPoint presentation would be shared with administrators ahead of a workshop discussion on how the law affects school board policy

Slides from that presentation break down several new bills that have been signed into law this year. The information provides details on state laws, but does not appear to provide clear guidance for teachers.

“If the kids are having conversations like this with their teachers, the teachers need to be redirecting them back to their parents,” Seminole County mom Jessica Tillmann said. 

Tillmann recently took her children out of the public school system, but believes the law will help ensure that only parents have sensitive conversations about sex with their young children.

In the meantime, Smith is asking all parents and teachers to be patient as they all navigate this uncharted territory together. He said he’s especially concerned for teachers.

“I don’t want them to get frustrated," he said. "I don’t want them to be tearing their hair out with the parents and everything, and I think more clarity from the district and from the state is going to be a win-win for both sides.”

Seminole County Public Schools officials released a statement that says: ”The School Board is continuing to review how these new state laws will be implemented and how our district policies may be affected. Once our review is complete, we will determine whether any changes or revisions may be required.”

Recently, the Florida Department of Education added a section to its website title “Parental Rights in Education” giving parents a bit more insight on how the law will work and also contact information for school principals should they have questions.