The Philadelphia School District 2024-2025
Professional Development Programming
Lex is facilitating 4 sessions for The Philadelphia School District’s Office of Professional Learning’s initiative, “Tune Up Tuesday”.
Programming Includes:
"Dear Cisgender People" Supporting Trans Students
November 12th, 2024
November 26th, 2024
School Based Strategies to Address Homo/Transphobia
March 11th, 2025
March 25th, 2025
"Dear Cisgender People" Supporting Trans Students
This session combines the power of narrative and storytelling with an active Q & A to engage participants in critical thinking, perspective taking, and the application of affirmation strategies to best support queer, non-binary and transgender students. Lex will share aspects of their journey in navigating the world as a queer, non-binary transgender person and their experience as a student, teacher (former Special Education teacher), current coach, athlete, small business owner, and LGBTQ+ Educator and Consultant. Incorporating narrative and storytelling, Lex will facilitate conversation and problem solving amongst participants to address critical areas of support for non-binary and transgender students. Prior to the session, participants will be sent an anonymous survey where they can submit questions and topics/themes that they would like the session to address. Educators will leave this session with a new perspective paired with allyship tools on how to best support and show up for their non-binary and transgender students.
Some potential topics covered include:
“Coming to” one’s identity versus “coming out”
How to prevent outing
The importance of using gender neutral and inclusive language
How to intentionally cultivate safe and welcoming classrooms and school environments
School Based Strategies to Address Transphobia & Homophobia
We all have the responsibility to address transphobia and homophobia, but how can we do this in an effective and impactful way? In this session, participants will gain the knowledge and the tangible tools and strategies needed to address transphobia and homophobia in the school setting, in addition to engaging in inclusion strategies for our classrooms and discussing opportunities for advocacy.
Session Goals include:
Identify and understand systems of oppression – transphobia, cisnormativity, and cissexism (gender based) and homophobia and heteronormativity (sexuality based)
Understand and identify unique microaggressions experienced by queer, non-binary and trans people
Leave with tangible tools and best practices to utilize as an effective ally in action to queer, non-binary and trans people and/or for self-advocacy
Sharing experiences and how to utilize advocacy tools to be proactive and/or reactive (scenarios practice)
This event is closed to the public. This programming is professional development for school district educators.
