From school culture to providing a well rounded education, California Education Code outlines a range of requirements for ensuring equity for LGBTQ+ students. This training uses data from our local student populations to identify areas of need in our local school system within the context of California Education Code and related laws. Tools for moving towards greater compliance will be shared, including tools and strategies for reducing bullying, chronic absenteeism, low academic performance, student dropout rates, youth homelessness, social isolation and violence on campus.

Teachers and students who are leading this work locally identify one of the biggest barriers for school improvement in this area is administrators’ knowledge of and willingness to comply with California laws. This administrator specific training focuses on developing the knowledge and skills for leading more welcoming, inclusive schools where queer students have equitable access to educational opportunities and feel a sense of engagement and belonging in their campus communities.

There are two levels to this series. Level 1 will be held twice, Sept. 29 and Oct. 20. Level 2 will also be held twice, on Jan. 12 and Feb. 9, 2024. Details and registration for Level 2 will be posted soon.

Facilitator

Lark Doolan is the executive director of the local non-profit, Queer Humboldt, working to uplift the local 2S/LGBTQIA+ community through community education, supporting local school districts, micro-grants, and direct mental health services for queer youth, queer adults, and caretakers/parents of queer youth. As the Transgender Health Champion at Open Door Community Clinics, Doolan works with a team of medical professionals towards building equitable health care access for gender diverse people in rural Northern California, especially ensuring that transgender youth have access to life saving health care locally and affordably.

Doolan is a credentialed special education teacher and school administrator in California and has worked in school settings since 2007. Doolan is also a practicing Marriage and Family Therapist and serves on the State of California’s Office of Health Equity Advisory Committee, representing the Humboldt County 2S/LGBTQIA+ Mental Health Policy.  Since 2012 Doolan provides training for school staff on creating safe and inclusive schools for gender diverse youth, non-heterosexual youth, and youth with disabilities.