2025 ACSA Lead With Pride Summit

"But I don't feel like a girl." I can remember vividly the first time our beautiful twelve year old daughter shared those feelings with us. We didn't know what that meant or where to even begin. Over time, through a great deal of reading, having conversations with other parents, and collaborating with experts, my husband and I began to navigate through what can be a frightening process for so many. Over time and with a great team of supporters, our amazing child has grown into the happy, healthy, and thriving young man he is today. But the education system and familial challenges were immense at times, even for a veteran public school educator.

During this co-led session, Everett and Amanda will discuss highlights of what they have learned over the years as well as ways to navigate through the school and family hurdles in order to affirm and support young people in transition. They recognize and honor that every transition is incredibly personal and unique to that specific human, but they hope their story can shed a positive light on what can be a very scary and complex evolution for a family. Even through the difficulties, a great deal of beauty, awareness, and unconditional love have been discovered.

Learning Objectives: By the end of the presentation, attendees will have...
1. Tips and resources for navigating the public schools systems.
2. Ideas on working through challenges with family and friends.
3. Ways adults can support children including other kids in the family.

Through the slide deck, Everett and Amanda will combine their personal stories along with data, resources, and ways attendees can extend their learning. At the end of the presentation, there will be a question and answer period.Sharing their lessons learned, this mother and son will speak to challenges experienced inside and out of school, what they would have done differently, and how to support the other kids in a family during and after this unique experience.