PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – A high school teacher and head of his school’s Gay and Lesbian Alliance is transitioning from a man to a woman with the support of his wife and school officials.

Robert Konrad

Officials at Pasco County’s J.W. Mitchell High School spent the last month and a half formulating a communications plan about how to announce to students that social studies teacher Robert W. Konrad would be turning into Ms. Konrad over the next year or so, WFLA reports.

MORE NEWS: Know These Before Moving From Cyprus To The UK

Konrad and school administrators met with school staff and students in his classes this week to explain the upcoming transition, during which time Konrad will continue his teaching duties. School officials will also sent a recorded message to parents, and are offering to discuss but not guarantee student transfers for those who take issue with the sex change.

The teacher declined an invitation to talk about his plans on camera, but said he may reconsider “if it is beneficial to kids who find themselves in similar situations,” according to WFLA.

“To each his own,” Becky Morrison, grandmother of a Mitchell student, told the news site. “That’s they way I’ve been raised.”

Betsey Kuhn, the district’s director of employee relations, said Konrad informed school officials of his intentions about a month and a half ago, and they consulted with private businesses that have went through the process to formulate a communications plan.

“She said he’s been a teacher in the school system for five years and has a solid performance record with no disciplinary issues in his personnel file,” WFLA reports.

Konrad is married to Mitchell reading teacher Jericho Konrad, and her student, Michael Nguyen, told the television station his wife has talked with students about “how she supports him and how they are doing.”

MORE NEWS: How to prepare for face-to-face classes

Taylor Hanlon, one of Robert Konrad’s students, said most of his classmates support the popular educator.

“I think there are a few against it, but there are a lot … that are for it and happy for him,” Hanlon said.

In an email to the Tampa Bay Times, Mitchell principal Jim Michaels wrote “As you can imagine, this is a very private decision, but Mr. Konrad has indicated that he will respond to appropriate questions you may have about the transition process.”

But “Konrad, 30, declined to be interviewed,” the new site reports.

Some parents, who did not want to be identified for fear of repercussions against their children, spoke through a local school choice advocate to express their concerns.

“They are afraid of disruptions in the classroom,” Wendy Howard told the Times. “What is the potential learning loss” from the distraction.

Parents also wonder what message their children will take away from their teacher’s decision.

“Teachers are supposed to be role models,” Howard said. “They’re supposed to leave their personal lives out of the classroom.”

A former student of Konrad’s, Kerry Archbold, said she “didn’t see it coming,” but thought he was a “great teacher” that was easy to talk to.

“He’ll still have the same personality,” she said. “Now he’s just Mrs. Konrad instead of Mr. Konrad.”