A Florida fifth-grade teacher claims she is currently under investigation by the Florida Department of Education after showing her students the 2022 animated Disney movie “Strange World,” which includes a biracial and gay character. Jenna Barbee, who teaches at Winding Waters K-8 school in Hernando County, shared her story in a TikTok post that garnered significant attention over the weekend.
In the video, Barbee explained that she screened the Disney movie to a partially filled classroom following a day of standardized testing. She emphasized that she had obtained signed permission slips from all the parents in advance, granting their consent for their children to watch a PG-rated film.
Barbee alleged that a parent, who also happens to be a member of the Hernando County School District Board, filed a complaint against her and reported the incident to the state Department of Education. According to Karen Jordan, a spokesperson for Hernando County Schools, the parent expressed concerns about the movie’s suitability for students. Jordan provided CNN with a copy of the school district’s announcement to parents regarding the situation.