A state investigator who looks into teacher misconduct demanded to know who in Orange County Public Schools authorized the purchase of the book "Gender Queer," a controversial memoir the district pulled from several high school libraries in late October, according to emails between the employee and the school district.

"This office is trying to find out who approved the book," wrote Ian Dohme, a Florida Department of Education employee, in an email to an OCPS administrator on April 13.

Dohme's request was alarming because he works for the department's Office of Professional Practices, said Stephana Ferrell, an Orange County mother and co-founder of the Florida Freedom to Read Project, which uncovered the email.

Professional practices investigates allegations of teacher misconduct and pursues disciplinary action against educators found guilty.

"That's a huge threat," Ferrell said.

Dohme, who wrote in another email that he was investigating how the book landed in OCPS high schools, was eventually sent purchase orders issued by four high schools that bought the book, and at least one document that included a high school media specialist's name, according to the emails.

The emails were obtained through a public records request by the Florida Freedom to Read Project, a parent group opposed to book bans, censorship and the removal of "Gender Queer" from school libraries. It shared them with The Orlando Sentinel.