Training
Welcoming Schools has certified facilitators across the country ready to partner with your school or district to prevent bullying and provide gender- and LGBTQ+-inclusive professional development that helps every student feel safe, respected, and able to thrive.
Welcoming Schools offers school communities critical training on:
- Embracing all families
- Creating LGBTQ+ and gender inclusive schools
- Preventing bias-based bullying
- Supporting transgender and non-binary students
Over 189,000 educators in all 50 U.S. States and 12 countries have participated in Welcoming Schools' Professional Development to gain critical skills for creating LGBTQ+ and gender inclusive schools. Over the past 4 years, these educators have impacted over 10.5 million students.
Professional Development
School-Based Trainings
When receiving professional development training from a Welcoming Schools Certified Facilitator, school leadership works in collaboration with the trainer to determine the prioritization of training modules based upon individual school needs. Schools will be able to track their progress in creating a safer school climate by using the Welcoming Schools School Climate Assessment.
Teachers, school staff, and administrators will receive professional development and accompanying lesson plans, book lists, and practical tips on topics like:
- Preventing bias-based bullying in your school
- Helping transgender and non-binary students to thrive
- Creating classrooms that welcome all families
Schools who complete each of the Welcoming Schools modules will have the opportunity to earn the Seal of Excellence by meeting benchmarks that support welcoming and safe schools.
District-Based Trainings
In addition to working with individual schools, the Welcoming Schools team works with districts to increase the internal capacity for districts to improve school climate by training facilitators within the district to deliver Welcoming Schools content to district educators
In a district-wide training, Welcoming Schools initially works with district leadership to select a cohort of in-district facilitators. These individuals are trained on site by Welcoming Schools staff who equip them with the skills and tools to deliver Welcoming Schools professional development modules to elementary schools throughout their district.
A participant from the Madison Metropolitan School District told us:
“I have been teaching for 23 years, and Welcoming Schools is by far the best, most important program I have seen. I am so grateful this came into my life!”
Trainings for Out-of-School Spaces
Welcoming Schools also provides opportunities to empower youth-serving professionals with the skills and confidence to create safe and affirming spaces for youth in out-of-school spaces.
Participate in our data-driven anti-bullying training program proven to increase confidence and competence with youth-serving professionals.
- Practice responding to teachable moments with youth and families
- Become familiar with age-appropriate LGBTQ+ definitions
- Explore how to make your out-of-school space gender inclusive
- Learn proven strategies to prevent bias-based bullying
E-Learning
Through storytelling and visually engaging, interactive content, Welcoming Schools’ e-learning courses equip PK-12 educators, support staff and administrators to create schools that are truly LGBTQ+ inclusive and supportive of trans and non-binary youth so all students are valued for who they are and can thrive academically, socially and emotionally.
E-learning Courses Available from Welcoming Schools:
- Creating LGBTQ+ Inclusive Secondary Schools
- Supporting Transgender & Non-Binary Students (K-12)
If your school or district is a Welcoming Schools partner, please use your school/district’s unique access code when logging in. If you need the code, please reach out to your Welcoming Schools lead.
Individual learners can self-register on the HRC Foundation’s learning management system, HRC LEARN, to enroll in courses.
Schools or districts can also facilitate course access for employees.