Supporting LGBTQ+ Students in our Schools
The Challenges for LGBTQ+ Students
This webinar will provide you with ideas and insights on how to address the complex challenges our LGBTQ+ students are facing in our schools today. Our expert panel shares their experiences and knowledge on how to support LGBTQ+ students and staff in a way that ensures their safety, fosters inclusivity, and promotes academic success.
Panelists
Matthew Berry has served as a school counselor, MTSS Facilitator, Director of Alternative Education and is currently the Coordinator of School Counseling for one of the largest school districts in Missouri. Matthew is a 2022 American School Counselor Association finalist for National School Counselor of the Year and is the 2020 Missouri School Counselor of the Year. He served as the first chair of the Missouri School Counselor Association from 2019-2021 and can often be found speaking at regional and national conferences on building equitable systems of support and on fully implementing school counseling programs. On social media, he is best known as the One Wild Counselor! The name was created to describe his passion and ability to wildly advocate for the academic and social and emotional needs for all students.
Tara is in her 11th year of being a school counselor in Maine and she has been advocating for the rights of LGBTQIA+ people for two decades. In 2018, she was awarded the Maine LGBTQA Youth Educator of the Year Award. In 2019, she was named Maine’s School Counselor of the Year and also received the University of Southern Maine’s Alumni Achievement Award. She especially loves to present on how to best support transgender and gender-expansive students.
Shawn is the Co-Founder and Director of Leadership Development for Youth At The Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Youth At The Center advances opportunities for children, youth and young adults to be seen, heard and valued as the next generation of leaders in our community. He has nearly 15 years of experience in youth leadership development and facilitating diversity, equity and inclusion programming through his professional roles as Director for Public Allies Cincinnati and Director of Education at The Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education. As a volunteer, Shawn serves as Lead Trainer for GLSEN Greater Cincinnati where he partners with schools and community organizations to create safe places for all youth. Shawn serves on several boards including Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) of Greater Cincinnati, the region’s fair housing authority, and Camp Quest Ohio.
Jason is a licensed school psychologist and has published research on resilience and student performance. Jason is a passionate advocate for disadvantaged students and currently consults and trains educators across the nation as the director of training and research for the WhyTry organization. Jason is a thought leader on resilience education and has spoken at hundreds of conferences around the country. He has led successful implementations of all WhyTry programs and has pioneered trainings for clients in healthcare, corporate, and the US Military.
Join us as we bridge the gap between alternative and mainstream education, bringing forward solutions and strategies that address some of the most pressing challenges in today’s educational landscape. Your voice and engagement are key to our collective success. See you at the webinar!