2025 ACSA Lead With Pride Summit

This interactive session will explore how K-12 educators and administrators can create affirming and equitable environments for LGBTQ+ students. Participants will engage with research-based strategies to address implicit bias, reduce microaggressions, and implement inclusive policies. The session will include an overview of California Education Codes, the importance of culturally responsive teaching, and actionable steps to foster student well-being. Attendees will be equipped with tools to advocate for systemic changes that improve school climates for all students, particularly LGBTQ+ youth.

3 Key Audience Takeaways:
Practical Strategies to Address Bias and Microaggressions
Understanding and Applying Legal Protections
Building Systems of Support

"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.

Learn how two districts, San Francisco and Fresno, have created and continue to evolve systems for collaborative and equitable Gender Action Plans (GAPs). GAPs are a great way to empower staff to take meaningful and policy aligned action when supporting LGBTQ+ students and their families. In this politically fraught moment, helping folks know what can be done and said is crucial in turning policy into praxis. We will share our journeys and the tips we’ve learned along the way!
Key Audience Takeaways:
1. Understand how a GAP process can be used to create collaboration between school staff and families in order to meet the needs and uphold the rights of LGBTQ+ students.
2. Develop insight that will allow participants to iterate in the creation of their own GAPs and engender district-wide adaptation and ownership of GAPs.
3. Review materials used in two districts to assist you in reflecting on your own district’s process.

Despite strong laws in California that protect our transgender/non-binary students, there is intense pushback in many districts and increasing confusion amongst staff regarding what they can talk about with queer youth. This workshop will provide tools to engage in positive and affirming conversations with transgender/non-binary students. Whether a student comes out to you for the first time, or you engage in ongoing conversations with them, come learn supportive and affirming ways to connect. Be that loving staff who stands up for transgender/non-binary youth through conversations that can help them feel affirmed in their gender, safe at school and celebrated for who they are.

Join us for an engaging and interactive session designed specifically for administrators and school leaders. This session will explore the progress, challenges, and strategies in fostering inclusive school environments for LGBTQ+ students and families. Through storytelling, data sharing, and collaborative problem-solving, participants will leave equipped with actionable tools and insights to support their school communities.

Key Takeaways:
- Building Community with family, student and teachers
- We must use Data to help schools commit to actions
- Soliciting student , family and staff voice through inquiry and fishbowl protocols will build collective efforts

Administrators rely on the important skill of building consensus across diverse perspectives. This workshop will give administrators specific tools to effectively build allyship for LGBTQ inclusive education among historically reluctant audience.

ince the beginning of 2024, over 660 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced across the country, the majority of which target transgender youth in particular. Many of these bills are backed by pseudoscience and false information targeting gender affirming care and the affects of hormones on the body. In this workshop, we will be going through an expansive conversation of transgender reproduction that will allow you to give your students the inclusive sex education they need, equipping them with up-to-date, evidence-based, non-judgmental information so that they are able to make safe and informed decisions with their bodies. The content will cover the history, science, and experience of transgender reproduction, and will touch on the legal movement determined to hide it.

The experiences of Queer Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
(BIPOC) have been excluded in Queer Educator research, which often focuses on White Queer educators or omits race as a variable (Boren & McPherson, 2018; Conrad, 2018; Taylor, 2018; Thomas-Durrell, 2020; Toledo & Maher, 2019). Therefore, this study aimed to explore the experiences of Queer BIPOC teachers
in the Southern California P-12 school system. Specifically, (a) what are out Queer BIPOC teachers' experiences (b) how did they make the decision to come out, and (c) what are their experiences with discrimination based on their Queer,
BIPOC, or intersectional identities. The goal of this qualitative study was to give a voice to a historically marginalized group, Queer BIPOC teachers. A total of six participants, five Latino/a/e and one Pacific Islander participated in this study.

Participants represented three school levels, elementary, middle, and high school. Semi-structured interviews were used for data collection. A total of five domains emerged from the data: (a) Outness on Campus, (b) Coming Out, (c) Mental Health, (d) Supportive Networks, and (e) Unsupportive Networks. Key findings included participants coming out because they wanted to be their authentic selves at work, Queer BIPOC teachers experiencing discrimination at work, and how administrators’ decisions can affect Queer BIPOC teachers’ mental health during
experiences of discrimination.

Dive into the transformative power of identity work in educational settings. This interactive session explores how educators and staff can leverage their own identities to create safe, authentic spaces that empower both themselves and their students. Through a guided "Identity Walk" exercise, participants will gain profound insights into their own multifaceted identities and learn strategies to build bridges across diverse communities, even when they may not personally identify with the groups they serve.

Moving beyond self-reflection, we'll engage in collaborative table talks to unpack our learnings and discuss practical approaches to fostering meaningful connections and building inclusive communities within our schools. The session culminates with a vital resource-sharing component, focusing on the specific needs of queer staff and students. Participants will leave equipped with actionable strategies to thoughtfully curate and promote resources that demonstrate genuine consideration for vulnerable students, as well as ideas for incorporating these inclusive practices into broader school initiatives and policies. Join us for an enlightening exploration of how embracing our full selves can create a more supportive and thriving educational environment for all.

3 Audience Takeaways:
* Explore intersectional identity and how to leverage elements of self for building supportive community
* Engage in conversation about current practices and perceived hurdles
* Receive resources they can put in place as individuals to do inclusion work with or without a structured school initiative or policy

Over the last decade of LGBTQ+ activism within the Castro Valley Unified School District—through GSAs, alliances, educational programming, marches, community events, school murals, and more—students have remained not only the powerhouse of the movement, but the primary beneficiary of the changes brought about. Through a sustained and concerted effort; teachers, staff, families, and community members have assumed the roles of essential stakeholders in this district-based activism, and together they have provided and will continue to provide the building blocks necessary for the creation of a safer and more supportive environment—not just on campus, but throughout the wider Castro Valley community. This presentation will provide a summary and tour of Castro Valley Unified School District’s “LGBTQ+ Thrive Guide,” a written toolkit detailing the history of Castro Valley and its many LGBTQ+ initiatives with the intent to offer other school districts seeking to better support their LGBTQ+ community a framework for action and ideas to pull inspiration from. The guide is rich in resources, case studies, best practices, advice, examples, explanations, and templates to better support every stakeholder at every step of the work.

This workshop will explore innovative ways to empower young people and strengthen organizational partnerships in the context of Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE). Designed for educators, community leaders, and youth-serving organizations, this session highlights the importance of amplifying youth voices in cannabis prevention and addressing the triangulum, especially among health disparity groups, while fostering systematic collaborations that drive long-term impact.

Participants will gain insights into how partnerships within and across organizations can enhance outreach, increase capacity, and effectively engage priority populations. Through an interactive session, we will explore strategies to build meaningful collaborations, address health disparities, and create inclusive, youth-centered programs.

Two youth-led initiatives will take center stage in this workshop: the Peer Advocate Advisory Council (PAAC) and the Unity Youth Conference (UYC) Planning Committee. These programs demonstrate how youth leadership can shape advocacy, awareness, and community-building projects to drive impactful change in cannabis prevention.
PAAC is a youth leadership group in Santa Clara County dedicated to advancing health equity through community advocacy, peer education, and media campaigns. Members lead initiatives grounded in research and innovation, addressing issues that matter most to their peers. Their efforts highlight the power of youth leadership in creating a healthier future for their peers in Santa Clara County.

The Unity Youth Conference, designed and led by the youth planning committee, is a vibrant platform for fostering allyship, pride, and inclusivity. Featuring engaging youth led workshops, wellness resources, and drag art, the conference provides a safe and celebratory space for ALL youth. The UYC demonstrates how events planned by youth can empower their communities while addressing critical health topics, such as cannabis prevention and mental wellness.

Attendees will also learn how to incorporate data-based decision-making into project facilitation, outreach efforts, and organizational partnerships. This approach ensures that interventions are targeted, effective, and impactful for priority populations, such as LGBTQ+ youth affected by cannabis use and health inequities.
By the end of the session, participants will be equipped with actionable strategies for enhancing partnerships and supporting youth-led initiatives. They will leave inspired to foster youth empowerment, build capacity, and create sustainable systems that amplify youth voices and serve their communities effectively.

Join me for an enlightening lecture on allyship and the backlash against DEIB, illustrating how individuals can bring about change and education during opposition. Discover how to be a supportive ally in both your workplace and community, while recognizing and dismantling biases and discrimination. This discussion focuses on transcending hatred and embracing comprehension, diversity, and inclusivity, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community. Through captivating narratives, storytelling, and an interactive PowerPoint, you'll learn how to navigate differences to foster a positive atmosphere at work and in your community. The session also addresses diversity, inclusivity, and proper pronoun usage. Don't miss out on this opportunity to empower yourself to instigate personal, professional, and community changes.

Key Takeaways:
* Personal storytelling can change hearts and minds.
* How to be a support ally.
* Fostering positivity at work and in your community.

Recognizing a growing need to support LGBTQ inclusivity in education, Leading LGBTQ+ Supportive Education was added to the complement of professional development opportunities for school administrators offered by the Los Angeles Unified Human Resources Division. The series focused on critical topics such as transformational leadership, administrator wellness, human capital management, coaching, and leading computer science.
This session aimed to equip school site leaders with the knowledge and tools to foster affirming environments for LGBTQ+ students, staff, and families. Topics included foundational LGBTQ+ definitions and concepts, an overview of relevant LAUSD and state policies, and strategies for implementing visible support and inclusive language. The professional development also emphasized the importance of establishing LGBTQ+ liaisons, creating student groups like Genders & Sexualities Alliances, and embedding ongoing training for administrators to address real-world scenarios.
Participants noted several key takeaways:
• The critical role of inclusive language and visible allyship in fostering affirming school spaces.
• The need for sustained training to deepen understanding and tackle practical challenges.
• The value of scenario-based learning and access to dedicated resources to implement LGBTQ+ policies effectively.
This presentation will highlight the program's design, key learning outcomes, and participant feedback while sharing actionable strategies for attendees to replicate.

Discussions on gender and sexuality typically focus on the United States perspective, with English dominating the language we use to discuss these topics. What happens when we switch languages? Cultures? Perspectives? How can these differences impact discussions about Queerness and Queer liberation between people of various cultures?

3 Key Audience Takeaways:
Participants will understand how language and culture influence perspectives of queerness.
Participants will have examples of how Queer people are treated in other countries.
Participants will understand how complex the decision to come out can be for a Queer Person of Color.

This interactive workshop explores the transformative partnership between San Joaquin Pride Center and Stockton Unified School District, aimed at fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ students, staff, and families. Attendees will gain insights into how collaboration between nonprofits and educational institutions can address key challenges such as bullying, mental health, and equitable access to resources.
The session will cover:
• Strategies for creating affirming spaces within schools.
• Training and support programs for educators and staff.
• The impact of community partnerships on student well-being and academic success.
Participants will leave with actionable tools, templates, and inspiration to replicate similar partnerships in their communities. This workshop is ideal for educators, school administrators, nonprofit leaders, and advocates dedicated to equity in education.

The Safe and Supportive Schools Report Card shares data gathered from 146 unified school districts in California on district-wide policies and practices that support LGBTQ+ student wellbeing and education.

This workshop will break down the underlying California Education Code that guides the survey and report, share the statewide and regional data, and discuss how the report card can be used as an advocacy tool for local stakeholders. Participants will leave knowing what is expected of school districts in California and how to take that information back to decision makers in their district.

Creating safe spaces for all black students is crucial and creating that space begins in elementary schools. Come learn how you can have an age appropriate Pride Club at your school not only for students who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community but for allies as well.

Equity and Racial/Social justice Issue in Schools

Secondary schools have seen an uptick in homophobic micro- and macroaggressions in recent years, both from within their school communities and from outside aggressors (Meckler et al., 2024). While those who suffer the most from these homophobic acts are queer students, queer teachers must not be forgotten in the fray. Schools and districts can enact changes to better serve and support their queer faculty members. While schools must make improvements to directly support their queer teachers, they must also better support their queer students in order to improve overall campus climate. Districts also have a responsibility to support their queer teachers through protective policy initiatives.

Leadership through Lyrics is an immersive multimedia experience of reflective practice. This session will provide the attendees with the opportunity to reflect on areas for improvement and take responsibility for change and growth. Through the lyrics and music of Alecia Moore (better known as P!NK) this experience will motivate you to bring your best self to your leadership position every day. Additionally, you will leave energized and committed to balancing your professional and personal responsibilities.

Key Audience Takeaways:    

1. You will increase your confidence to take on that next-level position
2. You will understand that we are all on the continuum of personal and professional improvement
3. You will learn skills to build on your leadership profile