This program is subject to change.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Gender in the Classroom: Supporting Transgender Youth in Early Childhood Settings
Workshop Description
Educators have the privilege to profoundly and positively impact the lives of transgender children. However, studies have shown that even educators who support trans children feel unprepared to support them in schools; over 72% of teacher preparation programs in one survey ranked LGBTQ+ identity as “either their lowest or an absent priority in addressing issues of diversity,” and few professional development opportunities are provided to teachers to gain knowledge about students who identify as queer and trans. Based on an article submitted for press to Young Exceptional Children with the same name, this session will address strategies adults can use to support transgender children within early childhood classrooms, resources for guiding their own self-study of trans issues, and guidance for how to promote policies within their school communities that could increase the acceptance and inclusion of all children, including those who identify as transgender from a very young age. Participants will leave with the confidence to serve trans youth and their families, as well as the skills to navigate queer inclusion in early childhood settings.
Conference Track
Family
Topic
Schools/Education
Workshop Outline/Powerpoint
Primary Contact
Benjamin C. Kennedy, M.Ed., The University of Vermont Translating Identity Conference
Workshop Presenters
Benjamin C. Kennedy, M.Ed., The University of Vermont Translating Identity Conference
Pronouns
He/Him
Presenter Bio
Benjamin C. Kennedy, M.Ed. (he) is a transgender academic, community organizer and activist, and social justice educator. He received his BS in Early Childhood Special Education and M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from the University of Vermont, where his writing focused on the impact of early childhood educators on the gender identity development of young children. Benjamin currently works at UVM, and serves as the Coordinator for the Translating Identity Conference. Benjamin is passionate about social justice, the accessibility of education to all learners, and universal access to trans-competent medical care; he's been featured in the Huffington Post and NPR.