Supporting LGBTQ Students in School Through the Dignity for All Students Act: A Workshop for School Professionals and Parents

New York State’s Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) goes into effect in July, 2012. This  QuERI workshop will inform teachers, administrators, student support professionals and parents about the standards for DASA compliance. It will also provide recommendations for effectively implementing policies, procedures and instructional practices aimed at disrupting bias and creating school cultures that value difference and diversity.  The QuERI DASA training will focus specifically on creating safe and equitable environments for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) students and the children of LGBT parents.  This special session will also include a presentation on support parents can give to their LGBT child who is experiencing harassment.
 
 
May 24, 2012
6:00-9:00 pm
BOCES Rodax 8 – 6075 East Molloy Road, Syracuse
 
Continuing Education Credits available
REGISTRATION INFORMATION COMING SOON
 
 
PRESENTER BIOS
Elizabethe C. Payne, PhD, is a professor in The Cultural Foundations of Education Department at Syracuse University. She is also Director of QuERI – The Queering Education Research Institute©.  In 2006, Payne began the Reduction of Stigma in Schools© (RSIS) professional development program to educate area school administrators and faculty on the relationship between social stigma and academic outcomes for LGBTQ students in schools and provide tools for creating more supportive environments for LGBTQ youth. As a sociologist of education, she specializes in qualitative research, critical theory, youth culture, and LGBTQ issues in education.  Her current research explores educator experiences working with transgender elementary school students and the effectiveness of LGBTQ professional development for educators. Dr. Payne serves on the New York Dignity for All Students Act State-wide Task Force, and the Dignity for All Students Act State Policy Group.
 
Linda Stone Fish, M.S.W., Ph.D. is a professor in the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics at Syracuse University. She also has a private practice in which she specializes in couple and family therapy with adolescents. Dr. Stone Fish has published over 25 research and theoretical articles focusing on family therapy with special populations. She recently co-authored the book, Nurturing Queer Youth: Family Therapy Transformed.
 
Melissa J. Smith, MA, is a PhD candidate in the Cultural Foundations of Education department at Syracuse University.  She has been a fellow with The Queering Education Research Institute since 2008 and is currently the Professional Development Coordinator.  She has served as co-researcher with Dr. Payne on several qualitative studies, including an evaluation study of RSIS. Prior to her doctoral work, Smith was a high school English teacher in Omaha, Nebraska, Public Schools. She holds a M.A. in English from the University of Nebraska. Her dissertation work addresses the experiences of teacher allies.