Beaufort County teacher fires back against ‘defamation’ she says she faced

BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WSAV) – A Beaufort County teacher is firing back in court against people who she says “attacked her” on social media for a survey she gave to kids.

Mardy Burleson has filed a civil suit against SC State Rep. Thomas Beach, David Cook, former Beaufort County Councilman Michael Covert, Corey Whittington and Elizabeth Szalai.

In the suit, Burleson said the group held a “false, defamatory and outrageous campaign” to harm across social media platforms, podcasts and even at school board meetings.

This all stems from a survey she sent asking for Hilton Head Island Middle School students their preferred pronouns.

In the lawsuit, Burleson claimed they accused her of being a “groomer” for kids, promoting an “overtly sexualized lifestyle,” giving “secret surveys about sex to preteens and children” and “indoctrinating” 8th graders.

She added that she was afraid for her safety and her family’s safety due to the personal attacks she faced.

Burleson is suing all five people for defamation, slander and libel, claiming their implication she was involved in criminal conduct with minors has caused “irreparable harm” to her reputation and well-being.

She is asking for actual and special damages, as well as punitive damages, to deter the defendants from engaging in such behavior in the future.