Trans teacher returns to Blaine classroom

Music teacher Alyssa Williams returned to her job at Roosevelt High School in Blaine last month. Williams, a transgender woman, was put on paid administrative leave nearly three months ago when a parent raised questions about the teacher's gender. After a highly publicized community meeting in early November, Williams went back to teaching. "All I want to do is teach kids music," Williams told the Star Tribune. "I don't want to communicate any kind of agenda."

After working as a man in South Dakota and Minnesota schools for seven years, Williams interviewed as a woman for the Blaine job in August and began working at the school this fall. She agreed to go on leave for two months while school administrators developed a plan to inform teachers, students, and parents about the matter. Minnesota's human-rights law protects transgender individuals from discrimination.

Williams did not respond to Q's attempts to contact her.