Dignity for All

Peter DeWitt (Ed.D) is the founder and CEO of the Instructional Leadership Collective. He was a K-5 teacher for 11 years and a principal for 8 years. For the last 10 years, he has been facilitating professional learning nationally, and internationally, based on the content of many of his best-selling educational books. DeWitt's professional learning relationships are a monthly hybrid approach that includes both coaching and the facilitating workshops on instructional leadership and collective efficacy. Additionally, in the Summer of 2021, DeWitt created a year long on-demand, asynchronous coaching course through Thinkific where he has created a community of learners that include k-12 educators in leadership positions. DeWitt's work has been adopted at the state level, university level, and he works with numerous school districts, school boards, regional networks, ministries of education around North America, Australia, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the U.K. Peter writes the Finding Common Ground column for Education Week, which has been in circulation since 2011. In 2020 DeWitt co-created Education Week's A Seat At the Table where he moderates conversations with experts around the topics of race, gender, sexual orientation, research, trauma and many other educational topics. Additionally, DeWitt is the Series Editor for the Connected Educator Series (Corwin Press) and the Impact Series (Corwin Press) that include books by Viviane Robinson, Andy Hargreaves, Pasi Sahlberg, Yong Zhao and Michael Fullan. He is the 2013 School Administrators Association of New York State's (SAANYS) Outstanding Educator of the Year, and the 2015 Education Blogger of the Year (Academy of Education Arts & Sciences), and sits on numerous advisory boards. Peter is the author, co-author or contributor of numerous books. Click on title to purchase. They include: Dignity for All: Safeguarding LGBT Students (Corwin Press. 2012). Flipping Leadership Doesn't Mean Reinventing the Wheel (Corwin Press. 2014) Collaborative Leadership: 6 Influences That Matter Most (Corwin Press/Learning Forward). School Climate: Leading With Collective Teacher Efficacy (Corwin Press/ Ontario Principals Council. 2017). Coach It Further: Using the Art of Coaching to Improve School Leadership (Corwin Press. 2018). Instructional Leadership: Creating Practice Out Of Theory (Corwin Press. 2020). Collective Leader Efficacy: Strengthening the Impact of Instructional Leadership Teams (Corwin Press. Learning Forward. 2021). De-implementation: Creating the Space to Focus on What Works (Corwin Press. 2022). Leading with Intention - Developing self-awareness to fostering an unreasonable human interconnectedness to impact the school community (co-authored with Michael Nelson. Corwin Press. 2024). Peter's articles have appeared in educational research journals at the state, national and international level. His books have been translated into numerous languages. Some of the organizations Peter has worked with are the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), Learning Forward, National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), University of Oklahoma, Cognition Education (New Zealand), Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL), Victoria Department of Education (Australia), University of Rotterdam (Netherlands), Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA), Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA), the National Education Association (NEA), New Brunswick Teacher's Association (Canada), the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), Education Scotland (Scotland), Glasgow City Council (Scotland), Kuwait Technical College (Kuwait) the National Association of School Psychologists, ASCD, l'Association des directions et directions adjointes des ecoles franco-ontariennes (ADFO), the Catholic Principals' Council of Ontario (CPCO), and the Ontario Principals' Council (OPC), National School Climate Center, GLSEN, PBS, NPR, BAM Radio Network, ABC, and NBC's Education Nation. Learn more about bringing Peter DeWitt to your school or district at petermdewitt.com

Preface Acknowledgments About the Author 1. The Silent Minority Our School Experiences What It Means to Be Gay The Need for Role Models Harassment and Discrimination of LGBT Students Negative Stereotypes of LGBT Students Conclusion Action Steps Discussion Questions 2. Bullying of LGBT Students Where Bullying Behavior Begins Cyberbullying Setting the Tone in School Safeguarding and Supporting LGBT Students Conclusion Action Steps Discussion Questions 3. The Role of Schools The Impact Schools Can Have on LGBT Students Keeping Students Safe Teacher Biases Professional Development Parent Outreach Conclusion Action Steps Discussion Questions 4. Curriculum Matters Diverse Literature at an Age-Appropriate Level Supportive Learning Environments for LGBT Students Curriculum Elementary School Gender Differences and Character Education English Language Arts Social Studies Guest Speakers Who Address Bullying After-School Enrichment Conclusion Action Steps Discussion Questions 5. Gay-Straight Alliances Why Schools Should Offer a GSA The Parameters of Creating a GSA Events Held by a GSA Conclusion Action Steps Discussion Questions 6. Following Through: School Board Policies and Codes of Conduct Laws That Support School Decisions School Leaders Embracing the Sexual Diversity of Students A Shared Vision: Creating School Codes of Conduct Creating School Board Policies How Parents, Staff, and Students Can Help Conclusion Action Steps Discussion Questions Questions to Ponder 7. Important Stories From Higher Education Appendix: NASP Position Statement: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Youth References Index

"Dignity for All is a wise book that will help administrators, teachers, and parents work together to make sure that our schools are welcoming for all of our students. Peter DeWitt provides the insight and ideas to lead the way in including LGBT students." -- Diane Ravitch, Research Professor "In this book, a group of students that is often misunderstood and frequently maligned finds a voice. Educators whose reach extends to every student will discover here a deeper understanding of these students' needs as well as sound advice on addressing those needs." -- Carol Ann Tomlinson, William Clay Parrish, Jr. Professor "Leaders set the tone for their buildings. Peter DeWitt offers an important resource for teachers and administrators that will help create an inclusive school for all students." -- Todd Whitaker, Professor "Dignity for All provides educators with critical information on the experiences of LGBT students in our schools and how to create safe and affirming spaces for these youth. Grounded in his experience as a teacher and school administrator, Peter DeWitt makes vital knowledge accessible for those on the front lines in schools." -- Eliza Byard, Executive Director "This book is a valuable resource guide for schools considering a course of action. It is recommended for all high schools seeking progressive change." -- Kevin Beach * VOYA, August 2012 *