Ideas for Transforming Your Schools Culture Alicia Harris and David - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Ideas for Transforming Your School’s Culture Alicia Harris and David Platt Crescenta Valley High School

Just a Little About Us

In the beginning… • “G seeks SA” e-mail • GSA Fishbowl • “What is it like to be LGBT at CV?” • Formation of Faculty Committee • School Climate Survey • Don’t reinvent the wheel: GLSEN and SPLC have great surveys

Next Steps • Safe Space Stickers/Postcards • Campus-wide Posters • Conference Attendance • 22% Fear Play

Education • Staff PD • Presented monthly at faculty meetings • Eventually…GSA Panel • GSA Fishbowl at Feeder Middle School • Student Lessons • Anti-harassment lessons in 9 th grade Health • Performance Tasks for Every Grade Level on Allyship

Our Most Recent Success Ally Week- November 2 nd -6 th CVHS participated in its first Ally Week—a vibrant celebration of LGBTQ+ students on campus and the peers who support them. This was a true school-wide effort with students and staff from CVTV, journalism, GSA, ASB, cheer, band, football and choir showing their allyship with a week of activities!

Ally Week photos

Challenges • School Survey • Committee Formation • Curriculum • Ally Week

Challenges • School Survey Non-Compliance • Committee Formation • Curriculum • Ally Week

Challenges • School Survey Non-Compliance • Committee Formation Diluting the Message • Curriculum • Ally Week

Challenges • School Survey Non-Compliance • Committee Formation Diluting the Message • Curriculum FAIR Act: no mandate • Ally Week

Challenges • School Survey Non-Compliance • Committee Formation Diluting the Message • Curriculum FAIR Act: no mandate • Ally Week Attempted Sabotage

Strategies for Success • Getting Admin on your side • Get parents on your side • Keep it in perspective (survey results/complaints) • Stay on MESSAGE

What is it like to be LGBT at CV? “CVHS overall is an incredibly accepting school excluding certain individuals who become uncomfortable if you come out to them. I feel completely accepted concerning my sexuality (bisexual), though certain stereotypes limit my romantic experience at this school. I have never been bullied concerning my sexuality. The worst is female friends worrying I secretly like them. I have yet to come completely out concerning my gender (non-binary) though, as it is often met with confusion or misunderstanding. I also worry about how the school would respond as a whole as I have experienced negative responses from my own family and younger peers when I have insisted “I am a boy” to my classmates. Overall at CV I have had a fantastic experience. I’ve never been bullied, the student body not familiar with LGBTQ+ were incredibly open and actions from multiple teachers have made me cry from gratitude. CVHS is overall is a fantastic school to be LGBTQ+.”—Maddie Sommers, junior

What is it like to be LGBT at CV? “This past week has shown me how many people support me at my school. Seeing people wearing rainbow-colored wristbands and writing kind messages on the rally platform made me feel a lot more comfortable about who I am. I am a 16 year old gay junior at CV, and above all I am grateful for how far my school has come. I’m junior class president, and I often wonder if I’d hold my position in a different time. Going forward, however, there is a still a lot of work that needs to be done. I still feel uncomfortable discussing my sexuality with anyone but close friends (despite being out) and I still hear “fag,” “dyke” and derogatory uses of the word “gay.” I feel safe at my school, and this past week has helped, but there is still a lot of work to be done.”—Brendan Caver, junior

What is it like to be LGBT at CV? “When I was in 5th grade, Proposition 8 came on the ballot. I remember walking home and seeing posters hanging from trees with the words, “Protect Marriage!” I faked confusion as to why these words hurt me so deeply and told myself I was just empathetic. But when I was in 9th grade I couldn’t lie to myself anymore. Coming out to my parents was easy. The real fear came when it was time to come out to the community around me. I thought the same hate I had seen a few years before would be waiting for me at school. But when I walked into Mr. Platt’s room for my first GSA meeting, I felt a safety I never thought I could experience. Being LGBTQ+ at CVHS is difficult. I still hear the word “fag” on a daily basis. But I feel lucky that I have teachers and faculty I can rely on.”—Claire Herr, senior, GSA president

Wrapping It Up Your Questions Your Experiences