In part it depends on your jurisdiction, and your savings. If you simply stand your ground, and are fired, have the reserves to both sue, and hold you over while you look for schools that aren't obliged to federal regulations?

Well.. count your blessings you haven't been confronted with this yet...and may you never be.
If you ever are, remember it is entirely political. It has nothing to do with common sense or biology or science. No one can predict what situation you may be confronted with. If someone expresses a preference for pronouns, you can escape that by using proper names. If someone is obviously a certain biological sex and demands to be called a proper name of the opposite sex, as in "a boy named Sue" accept that and make sure his parents are aware of that and call their child by that name.
This is their reality. Never be confrontational unless you wish to "unleash the whirlwind", as Chuck Schumer says. When and if you are confronted with it you will know what to do.

This is a political attack on the family and a part of the Marxist manifesto to break down a society.
The sources of the attacks need to be exposed before anything can be done about it. They are hiding themselves by using proxies, pointing to others as responsible for chaos, and themselves feign innocence. The communists have moved out of Russia and are now squarely planted in western republics. The divisions they are creating in the name of unity are, of course, irrational or nonsensical and trying to reason with those supporting these changes is not generally possible on an individual basis unless you are willing to risk the bullying and harassment. The fight must ultimately be fought on a different level unless you are willing to risk being let go or quitting, which you have stated is not an option. You will have to leave it to others in such case.

It kind of presents a question in my mind why you are asking for advice when you offer no option for yourself other than to comply? The acceptance of any challenge will involve a level of risk.

If it were me....I would get some stickers made, like the ones that say "Hello, my name is..." but my stickers would be outright educational fill-in-the-blank ones for the pronouns that they would want me to use ~ to help remind me of course ....and there can be no rebuttal against it, as it was said innumerous times by the MSM propaganda machine about "TRUST THE SCIENCE"....and make sure they fill out 2 copies!! One to wear, to remind you correctly what to use/say (of course obviously) AND one for your records and self-protection from recrimination, so that there are no recusals and no misunderstandings involved.

Good luck and may G-D bless you as well.

Don't compromise yourself personally to become who you wish to be professionally

I worked as an engineer for the State until I retired. There were many occasions where I had to go along to get along. There were many office affairs that I strongly disapproved of but you have to work with people who have different lifestyles than you. I also had to use designs that I felt were not in the best interests of the public. I would object when I thought they were life threatening but in the end the State was inflexible about it's standards. As a teacher I'm sure you have experienced similar situations. While those situations may not present the same level of conflict with personal ethics as seeing children pushed into a gender change they are part of a pattern of immorality that has always been with us. The alternative is a state such as Iran where there are morality police. I think you would agree that morality police is not the answer.

Since we have to live with sinners all we can do is set the best example we can. If you are a Christian I think this quote captures the appropriate attitude. "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." Remember the early Christians had to meet in secret to avoid state arrest and execution. If everyone of them had been a martyr there would have been no one to carry on.

I’m no expert but it seems to me the safe approach is to follow the parents’ lead. I would hesitate to insert myself between the parents and their child. Also, if it’s simply a matter of a name change, then the moral implications of gender transition are out of your hands. I would, however, insist on using the child’s new name and avoid “he” or “she.” Good luck.

A good friend of mine teaches at a middle-school in Kansas. Last year, as covid restrictions were removed and face-to-face classes were getting ready to resume, he received a call from the principal, who wanted to warn/advise him that one of his students (no doubt confused and being "groomed" by his mother) was changing his gender and wished to be called by his (her?) female name. My friend didn't like the situation, of course, but in the end he said, "It's just a job."

Doing your job might require you to do things you're not fond of doing. There are no doubt legitimate reasons you object to people denying their gender, but that doesn't make it wrong (objectively speaking) for you to treat them as they wish to be treated.

Just because you're thrust into a situation you find morally repugnant doesn't mean you're doing anything morally wrong or illegal. It's just a job.

While I am not a fan of 'preferred pronouns', I have to wonder what you think they mean...other than a confused child. It seems that you are concerned that some child will confuse reality with make believe and you don't want to play with them.

So, find out WHY they feel that way. Find out the root of the issue and deal with that. It also depends on the age of the child. A kindergartener is much different than a high schooler. Also, is it a boy or a girl? Where are they on the social hierarchy - popular to most despised? These things matter. A five yr old boy hasn't learned that societal claims mean anything while a teenage girl is prone to all matter of social influences. Also, their home life, and you many not know much about it, but after 30 years I bet you have a well-developed sense of understanding many home dynamics based on the behavior of the child. Do they have a safe home, or an abusive, or an indifferent one? Siblings? What is their interaction like?

Don't take the current media and political climate's take on what is 'right or wrong'. Consider the child as an individual, their circumstances as unique. Offer EDUCATION*, unbiased and with due consideration for their age and capabilities.

YOU don't know what is going on in their head - don't assume some political or other ideological approach is the right one until you have had a chance to understand, and maybe learn, what the true issues are.

• By education I mean learning all sides of the issue, not assuming that one side is 100% right, and the other 100% wrong....