71. Why Owning Your Queerness Makes Your School A Safer Place for All Students

Teaching While Queer: Advocacy For LGBTQ Folks In Schools & Education To Live & Work As Your Authentic Self

Ask A Queer Educator

Are you curious how a queer educator in a small rural school navigates identity and inclusion while working with a diverse set of students?

In this episode, we dive into the unique experiences of Rebecca Gennes (she/her), a fourth-grade teacher in Western New York, as she shares her journey of balancing her personal identity with her professional role. This conversation highlights the ongoing challenges and rewards of creating an inclusive environment in education, especially in a small community with evolving perspectives on LGBTQ+ issues.

Through our conversation you will:

• Gain insights into the personal and professional challenges faced by queer educators in traditional school settings.
• Discover how representation in literature and other forms of media plays a significant role in fostering acceptance and understanding
• Learn how personal identity and evolving relationships can impact and enhance one's approach to teaching and mentorship.

Tune in now to hear Rebecca’s inspiring story and learn how to make a difference in education through authenticity and inclusion.

Support the show

Follow Teaching While Queer on Instagram at @TeachingWhileQueer.
You can find host, Bryan Stanton, on Instagram.
Support the podcast by becoming a subscriber. For information click here.
The podcast explores the challenges and successes of LGBTQ representation in education, addressing issues such as burnout, tokenism, doxing, and the importance of advocacy in creating inclusive classrooms, safe spaces, and anti-bullying strategies, with a focus on supporting non-binary teachers and gender identity in schools to combat the feeling of isolation and lack of community.