Professional Development Course
Creating LGBTI+ Inclusive Classrooms & Schools
This course engages middle school and high school teachers in a four week course to guide their personal reflection on their understanding of gender and sexuality, explore context and history of LGBTI+ rights and movement, explore classroom & schools resources, develop LGBTI+ inclusive practices in the classroom, and discover school supports to implement at the school level.
This interactive, meaningful experience provides techniques to teach better, create a safe environment, and support LGBTI+ students. The course offers asynchronous videos as well as group discussion forums, culminating with live group presentations where participants create practical strategies. This model allows you to watch and engage when it accommodates your schedule. Our small cohort size also ensures personalized attention. At the end of the course, teachers come away with a tangible action plan and a professional learning community.
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Meet your instructors
Tonya Gardner
she/her
Tonya Gardner is the Director of Admissions at Fusion Academy, where she is dedicated to bringing the community of Columbia, MD, together to best serve students and families. As a new mom, Tonya balances her professional responsibilities while pursuing her Master of Public Administration at the University of Baltimore. In addition to her role at Fusion Academy, Tonya serves as the Director of Education for the Global Center for LGBTI+ Freedom and Education. In this role, she collaborates with Education Associates and Senior Leadership to develop and implement diversified and transformative toolkits, trainings, courses, and dialogues with schools and educators. She crafts inclusive curriculum focused on LGBTI+ topics to provide high-quality resources for educators. Before stepping into her current role, Tonya served as the National Curriculum and Instruction Lead for Electives and Visual & Performing Arts across Fusion’s 80+ schools, where she was instrumental in developing programs that emphasize diversity and inclusion. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in oil painting and mixed media art from Radford University. After graduating, she began her teaching career in Bangladesh, where she developed her passion for innovative and inclusive educational practices. In her free time, Tonya enjoys attending concerts, creating art, and traveling with her family. She is deeply motivated to create a world where all students feel safe, included, and represented in their curriculum, ensuring they have the opportunity to thrive both academically and personally.
Bijan Moore
he/him
Bijan Moore is a program coordinator, facilitator, education associate, and social impact advocate. He works to support leaders in creating communities that foster innovation and inspiration. He currently works as a Program Coordinator at Vital Voices Global Partnership on the Leadership & Social Impact team, engaging with women leaders across the globe who are taking on the world's greatest challenges. His professional experiences have ranged from supporting and mentoring young leaders with grassroots initiatives in both the United States and Latin America, to managing exchange programs for social impact entrepreneurs across the globe. Bijan also serves as an Education Associate at The Global Center for LGBTI+ Freedom and Education, where he supports the team in curriculum development, volunteer onboarding, and creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth through resource creation for educators. Prior to joining Vital Voices, Bijan worked at IREX as a Partnerships Intern for the US State Department YLAI Fellowship program. Bijan holds a BA in International Studies with a minor in Music Performance from American University. Outside of work Bijan likes to play the violin, going to museums, and reading. He is passionate about empowering young people to be leaders within their communities.
Shay Dawson
she/her
Shay is a writer, researcher, educator, and museum professional interested in Black and queer narratives. She serves as an Education Associate with The Global Center for LGBTI+ Freedom and Education, and is responsible for curating the Knowledge Hub and Queer Book Club. Outside of this, she is also currently a Program Support Specialist with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). In this role, Shay is responsible for delivering and developing community-centered educational programming - both digital & in-person - as well as creating robust & accessible resources for all ages (publications, digital platforms, lesson plans etc.) that are meant to encourage connectivity & foster empathy. This role, amongst others, speaks to her passions: accessibility to quality education for all, restorative justice (particularly within museums & cultural heritage sites), & the documentation of diverse lived experiences. Prior to her time with the NMAAHC, Shay served as the 2022-2024 Predoctoral Fellow in Gender Studies with the National Women’s History Museum and has worked at a variety of culturally specific institutions. Shay holds a B.A. in African American and African Diaspora studies and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality studies from American University. She also earned her MA in Museum Studies from Johns Hopkins University where she focused on Museum Education and Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion. Outside of work and academics, Shay enjoys reading, collaging, listening to music, and spending time with her cat, Melee.
Demo Call
Want to learn about the objectives, time commitment, and how the course will benefit you? Sign up to speak directly to our team and receive a free lesson plan.