NSPRA’s PR Power Hours offer an economical and convenient way to continue your professional development. These programs provide you with a conversational and interactive forum for learning best practices from top experts in school communication.

Topic

Every student has the right to attend school in a safe and supportive setting, regardless of gender. This is supported by a number of legal protections at the federal, state and local level. Yet some of the most unsettling challenges parents, families and schools encounter involve grappling with the legal issues around raising and schooling gender-expansive or transgender children. How can we effectively take the law into consideration while implementing gender inclusive practices in our schools that respect gender diversity, support struggling parents and educate our publics? This program will help your district traverse the intersection of law and practice by outlining some of the challenges, sharing some legal principles to keep in mind and offering tips for informal advocacy to safeguard the rights of all students to be affirmed and supported for who they are.

Panelists: Joel Baum, senior director, professional development and family services, Gender Spectrum, San Leandro, Calif.; and Asaf Orr, Esq., Transgender Youth Project staff attorney, National Center for Lesbian Rights, San Francisco, Calif.

Moderator: Trent Allen, APR, senior director, community relations, San Juan Unified School District, Carmichael, Calif., and NSPRA Southwest Region vice president