1. Addressing LGBTQ Issues in St. Albert Protestant Schools Joe Demko & Joni Turville November 26, 2005 AGAPE Conference

2. Proactive Approach Knew that we needed to give district leaders, teachers, counselors and other school staff important information, as well as the time and space to discuss concerns. Knew that we needed to give district leaders, teachers, counselors and other school staff important information, as well as the time and space to discuss concerns. Devised a series of steps to address needs. Devised a series of steps to address needs.

3. Steps Taken: Awareness session for school administrators Awareness session for school administrators Awareness session for board committee Awareness session for board committee Presentation at a public board meeting Presentation at a public board meeting Two half-day sessions conducted for school counselors and teachers Two half-day sessions conducted for school counselors and teachers Distributed Safe Spaces materials to all schools Distributed Safe Spaces materials to all schools

4. Results Supportive local press coverage Supportive local press coverage Support from and collaboration with Supervisor of Student Services Support from and collaboration with Supervisor of Student Services Pre/Post Surveys conducted at second workshop (ATA Workshop “Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity”) Pre/Post Surveys conducted at second workshop (ATA Workshop “Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity”)

5. Workshop Structure Parking lot establishment Parking lot establishment Surveying of school environment Surveying of school environment Exploring definitions Exploring definitions Health and safety concerns Health and safety concerns What can our school do? What can our school do? Resources Resources

6. Survey Results QuestionPre(n=15)Post(n=12) How familiar are you with LGBTQ issues in schools? 0 % - Very familiar 13% - Familiar 47% - Somewhat familiar 40% - Not Familiar 0% - Very familiar 67% - Familiar 33% - Somewhat familiar 0% - Not Familiar How aware of you of the health and safety issues for LGBTQ students? 0% - Very aware 6% - Aware 67% - Somewhat aware 27% - Not aware 8% - Very aware 75% - Aware 17% - Somewhat aware 0% - Not aware

7. Survey Results QuestionPre(n=15)Post(n=12) How aware are you of the policies and legislations with regard to LGBT students? 0% - Very aware 7% - Aware 20% - Somewhat aware 73% - Not aware 17% - Very aware 50% - Aware 33% - Somewhat aware 0% - Not aware How familiar are you with ways LGBTQ students can be supported in schools? 0% - Very familiar 0% - Familiar 47% - Somewhat familiar 53% - Not Familiar 0% - Very familiar 42% - Familiar 58% - Somewhat familiar 0% - Not Familiar

8. Survey Results QuestionPre(n=15)Post(n=12) How aware are you of resources that are available to support LGBTQ students? 0% - Very aware 0% - Aware 27% - Somewhat aware 73% - Not aware 8% - Very aware 50% - Aware 42% - Somewhat aware 0% - Not aware

9. Participant Comments This is a very important topic. I would love a follow up – kids speaking to use – what would they like teachers to have done in elementary, junior high, high school. This is a very important topic. I would love a follow up – kids speaking to use – what would they like teachers to have done in elementary, junior high, high school. I appreciate the information and definitions. I appreciate the information and definitions. Thanks, very interesting. Would like to share some aspects of this workshops at staff meeting. Thanks, very interesting. Would like to share some aspects of this workshops at staff meeting.

10. Participant Comments Resources need to be developed to support teachers in these issues. More weight on policies/legislations. Resources need to be developed to support teachers in these issues. More weight on policies/legislations. Great start, however more information and education is needed. Great start, however more information and education is needed. I’m really glad I volunteered to represent our school because I learned a lot about the issues regarding LGBT students. Fantastic presentation – great eats! I’m really glad I volunteered to represent our school because I learned a lot about the issues regarding LGBT students. Fantastic presentation – great eats!

11. Resources Safe Spaces Initiative from ATA and SACSC Safe Spaces Initiative from ATA and SACSC Guidebooks available through The Society for Safe and Caring Schools and Communities (www.sacsc.ca) Guidebooks available through The Society for Safe and Caring Schools and Communities (www.sacsc.ca)www.sacsc.ca Linking to other work and curriculum areas such as the new Social Studies Curriculum. Linking to other work and curriculum areas such as the new Social Studies Curriculum. Interfaith Video – (www.ibelievein.ca ) Interfaith Video – (www.ibelievein.ca )www.ibelievein.ca