Is This the Right Elementary School for My Gender Nonconforming Child?

Abstract

This article describes what followed after a mother wondered if the school in her neighborhood was the right elementary school for her gender nonconforming young child. It includes collective and individual narratives from four key players: the mom and teacher educator (Slesaransky-Poe), the school's guidance counselor (Ruzzi), the principal (DiMedio), and the consultant who led the initial professional development (Stanley). It documents and reflects on the work done over five years to transform a great school into a welcoming and inclusive one for gender nonconforming and transgender students.

KEYWORDS:

• Elementary school
• family–school collaboration
• gender nonconformity
• gender variance
• Welcoming Schools

Notes

1. His name has been changed to protect confidentiality.

2. For a list of ways to answer children's and adults’ questions about gender nonconformity and sexual orientation in a developmentally appropriate way, refer to Human Rights Campaign Foundation (2010).