Introduction

The primary objective in any school is to educate the whole child, to help her develop intellectually, socially and emotionally. We want students to learn about different subjects, learn how to get along with and appreciate others, learn how to be good citizens in the world. Meeting these objectives in the contemporary Pre-K-12 setting requires that educators in every role understand the complex and rich Identity Development processes of all children and adolescents.

Few educators receive training on how to engage and address Gender Identity and Sexual Identity in a developmentally appropriate and pedagogically sound manner. From Pre-K to High School, students bring their individual/collective experiences and questions about Gender and Sexuality Diversity to school every day. If you are a teacher or administrator (or parent!), how prepared do you feel to effectively engage in these increasingly commonplace scenarios?

• Kindergarteners wonder how come the classmate with two moms doesn't have a dad and so they ask their teacher for an explanation.
• Second graders struggle with gender role expectations and begin to learn the "rules" about what is okay for boys and what is okay for girls. Whose "rules" should they follow anyway?
• Fourth graders use "That's so gay" to label anything they think is weird or dumb. Or they use "gay" as a personal put-down, a slur, a taunt.
• Sixth graders step toward adolescence carrying conflicting messages and inaccurate information about sexuality. What should they believe?
• An increasing number of middle school students express a range of Sexual Identities - straight, gay, bisexual, queer - and are looking for guidance and acceptance from their families and school community.
• The small percentage of elementary, middle and high school students who are Gender Variant and/or Transgender are at particular risk in terms of safety, understanding and acceptance in school by both peers and adults
• ALL pre-adolescent and adolescent students need comprehensive sexuality education in order to make healthy, responsible choices and to learn about people different from themselves.

As a culture, we are in the midst of a profound social, legal, political and religious transformation with regard to Gender and Sexuality. Yet it is in Education, in our Pre K- 12 schools, that questions about and reactions to these aspects of Human Identity are manifest on a daily basis in the classroom, in the hallways, or on the playground. With thoughtful, opportune and personalized consultation from Dr. Jennifer Bryan, school communities can feel prepared, proactive and authentic in their response to these complex educational questions and challenges.

The challenge of diversity in the 21st century is to ensure that your school's policies, curriculum, and culture reflect and embrace every member of your community. Gender identity and sexual orientation can be a particularly complex area to address, and schools that wade into this topic without guidance do so at their own risk. Fortunately, Jennifer Bryan is available to help you navigate these waters. For two years, Jennifer has effectively consulted with us at New Canaan Country School, where we teach pre-school through grade nine…As a school head with twenty-five years of experience of working on diversity issues, I am deeply impressed by Jennifer Bryan and the practical and powerful impact she has had on our institution. Teachers and trustees alike give her the highest marks. I recommend her very highly.
—Tim Bazemore, Head of School, New Canaan Country School

In two workshops with our faculty, Jennifer Bryan has done a superb job of demystifying issues of gender and sexuality and helping our elementary teachers begin to wrestle with the practical sexuality challenges confronting them on a daily basis in the classroom. Like many independent school communities, DCD has miles to go before we can comfortably accommodate these issues, and we look forward to Dr. Bryan's continuing stewardship throughout our institutional journey. Her down-to-earth, healthy, non-anxious, witty advice and assistance have been invaluable thus far.
—Nicholas Thacher, Head of School, Dedham Country Day School