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 during a four-day institute that equips 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!”