Professional Development Goals:
In the next year, I would like to attend all of the workshops offered by The Robert Quartermain Centre for SOGI‐Inclusive Excellence in Education at UBC. These workshops include SOGI in the classroom, Navigating Parental Rights and School Policy, Engaging Parents, SOGI in Elementary and Middle School, and Navigating Difficult Conversations. Attending workshops like these is important to me because creating a safe and inclusive classroom for all students is at the heart of my teaching philosophy. I think it’s important for educators to continue learning about SOGI because the more informed we are, the more inclusive we can be.
The SOGI in the classroom workshop focuses on learning what SOGI inclusive education is and how to create a SOGI inclusive classroom, including incorporating it into the curriculum. This workshop would be helpful because it shows how to be inclusive to all students and not just certain groups within the LGBTQIA2S+ community. I think this is important because it’s possible to unintentionally leave students out without realizing it because even though your intention is to create an inclusive environment, some students may still feel excluded if they don’t see themselves being represented in the classroom.
The Navigating Parental Rights and School Policy workshop gives teachers a review of policies related to sexual orientation and gender identity and discusses teacher, student, and parental rights. It also focuses on the responsibilities teachers have and how to fulfill those responsibilities while aligning with policy and inclusive values. It’s important to understand the rights and policies that we have as teachers regarding SOGI, especially when it comes to situations where a student has requested to use a different name or pronouns. I know that currently in BC teachers are not required to disclose this information with parents, which helps protect students who may not have a safe or supportive home environment where outing them could put them into serious danger. This workshop would help educators stay informed about current policies and prepare for any future changes that may happen regarding informing parents, while continuing to prioritize student safety and well being.
The Engaging Parents workshop focuses on how teachers can build positive relationships with parents and advocate for inclusive education. It also explores ways to have productive conversations to help parents have a better understanding of SOGI inclusive education. I think this workshop is important because some parents may struggle to understand or accept that their child is part of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, and having the knowledge and skills to support both the student and their parents can help create a more positive experience for everyone.
The SOGI in Elementary and Middle School workshop explores how SOGI inclusive education can be incorporated into elementary and middle school classrooms, and addresses common myths, misconceptions, and misinformation about SOGI inclusive education. A lot of people have misconceptions about SOGI and claim that it is being forced onto children, so I think its important for educators to understand how to respond to these concerns with accurate information so we can stop the spread of misinformation before it causes any harm.
The Navigating Difficult Conversations workshop discusses difficult conversations educators may encounter and how to respond to them in an inclusive and professional way. It also has strategies for creating classrooms where students feel safe asking questions and engaging in conversations around SOGI. This workshop is important because students are genuinely curious and are going to have questions about topics related to SOGI, and having open conversations helps students stay informed, but it’s important that the conversations stay respectful and inclusive for everyone.
https://sogi.educ.ubc.ca/initiatives/professional-development
Professional Development Plan:
Classroom management strategies for new teachers
- KEYNOTE: CJ Reynolds on consistent routines, clear expectations, and building a structured environment
- BREAK
- Navigating Tough Classroom Dynamics with Carmen Moore
- LUNCH
- Collaborative & Proactive Solutions in the classroom with Dr. Ross Greene