Walking the dirt street to reach my house, I hear a homophobic slur emanate from the car driving past me. A meek 12-year-old, I rush on in fear—fear of what they would do if they knew how right they were. “How do they know?” I ask myself. “Am I too masculine? Too feminine?” My identity […]
Category: LGBTQ+
This Pride Month Holding Space for Us All
Celebrating Leadership and an Authentic Life This Pride Month
I have fallen in love with comic books. With the ability of creators to tell complete stories using text and art, color and space. And, of course, with the superhero. The character that is always brave or strong, selfless and courageous, adaptable, driven, inquisitive. The appeal of the superhero is understandable. The motivations, the skill […]
Taking Pride in Ethnic Studies
In honor of Pride Month, I want to share my experience advocating for Ethnic Studies, an interdisciplinary field that empowers diverse and often marginalized voices. At a time when America is increasingly polarized, the field of Ethnic Studies has become a contentious topic that often pulls apart communities. As education leaders, our role is to […]
Helping LGBTQ+ People Thrive in the Public School Setting
LGBTQ+ students’ lives are being heavily scrutinized and controlled because of the many anti-trans bills and policies being passed at the local, state, and federal levels. These policies have an impact on all students because they concern school uniforms, bathroom use, and sports participation.
Transgender Day of Visibility Brings Voice to School Leaders
Every day, I lead a community of students, teachers, and families who come together to create an environment where holistic, rigorous instruction is intertwined with a deliberate approach to empowering students to make the world a more just place. At the International Community School, a K–5 public charter school in Decatur, GA, we believe that […]
Celebrating Pride Month Starts with Student Voice
During one school’s election for student body president this year, a candidate was openly gay. He was preparing to give a speech over the intercom during homeroom period. A few minutes before he presented, the school’s principal briefly met with him to discuss the contents of his speech.
Listening and Learning Tour Features Stops Out West
As the end of the school year approaches, NASSP President Gregg Wieczorek is winding down Leading Forward: The Listening and Learning Tour. The latest tour stops, highlighted below, come from California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah.
Week 3 of National Principals Month
After two weeks, National Principals Month is hitting its stride! The third week of National Principals Month is the busiest yet, featuring some excellent webinars from partner organizations aimed at aiding principals in their mission to help all students succeed. This week is also the second ever National Principal Shadowing Week! Let’s dive into the […]
NASSP and HRC Lead School Inclusion Efforts for LGBTQ Students
NASSP and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) have partnered to highlight the important role that principals have in striving for educational equity, with a focus on safety and inclusion for LGBTQ students. The need for culturally responsive practices that promote each student’s academic well-being is especially critical in this politically charged time. HRC’s 2018 LGBTQ […]