Southside Middle School teacher: Complaints not true

DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. — A Duval County teacher is suspended without pay this week after being accused of making sexually-charged comments to her students.

A statement said Southside Middle School teacher Kelly Hendrix called students derogatory and homophobic names. The school district opened the investigation in April. However, Hendrix told Action News that's not true and she was never even interviewed by the school district.

"They've never even met with me and told me what I've done wrong," Hendrix said.

A Duval County School District report said Hendrix would ask students about their sexuality. But Hendrix said in one case she did it to help a student who was being bullied.

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"I called the boy outside and I said to the boy, I said, 'What's going on?' And he said, 'Kids are calling me gay,' and I looked at him and said, 'Well are you gay?' And he said, 'No,' and I said, 'Well why does that bother you?' Simply like that," Hendrix explained.

The district also said Hendrix told a student's father his daughter was a lesbian. District police investigated and didn't find anything criminally wrong.

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"I teach 165 kids this year. They pulled me out of the class because of one complaint. One complaint. I've been teaching 21 years," Hendrix said.

Hendrix said she won't resign and claims the student mentioned is trying to retaliate against her.

The district wouldn't say anything not mentioned in report.

"I love it. I love it. And now it's over for me," Hendrix said.

WJAX