The Advocate Educator's Handbook - by Vanessa Ford & Rebecca Kling (Paperback)

About the Book

"Too often, the resources available to adults advocating for transgender students are boring, overly focused on abstract policy, don't include the voices of transgender people, or don't spend enough time on tangible and practical ways to improve the lives of trans kids. Fortunately, the simple framework in this book avoids these pitfalls by tying everything back to the 4 Core Principles: Educate to foster understanding across differences, Affirm to encourage confidence in both trans youth and allies, Include to nurture an integrated classroom community, and Interrupt to catch and redirect potential difficulties before they grow into lasting damage. The book includes practical tools that readers can start using on day one, personal stories from its co-authors, input from both trans youth and trans adults, and model policies for teachers, schools administrators, and public policymakers. The book includes practical tools that readers can start using on day one, personal stories from its co-authors, input from both trans youth and trans adults, and model policies for teachers, schools administrators, and public policymakers. The book includes ways to engage trans youth, and youth allies to ensure adults are advocating with youth, not simply for youth."--

Book Synopsis

A critical guide on creating inclusive classrooms for transgender students

Including a foreword from Dr. Peggy Brookins, President of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, The Advocate Educator's Handbook offers a tested framework for educators to use in their journeys to create inclusive classrooms for transgender and non-binary students. Centered on a framework of four principles - educate, affirm, include, and disrupt - this book provides a new way of thinking about inclusivity in the classroom, as well as practical ways to foster students' sense of belonging. The authors bring rich understanding to the topic - Kling as a transgender educator & advocate, Ford as a teacher & parent of a transgender child, and both authors being educators themselves. You'll also read stories from transgender and non-binary students, teachers, researchers, parents, and more, providing unique and important perspectives.

Inside the book, you'll find tools that you can start using on day one of being in the classroom. You'll also find model policies for teachers, schools administrators, and public policymakers, so you can begin the important work of advocating for and with trans and non-binary students. By engaging with trans youth and allies, we can build inclusivity in and beyond the classroom.

• Understand what it means to be transgender or non-binary and learn about the experiences of trans youth
• Learn how to support trans and non-binary students with dozens of firsthand accounts from experts serving the communities
• Find resources you can use as an educator in your journey toward inclusivity in education

• Recognize and respond to anti-trans policies and laws targeting trans students

• Identify important actions unique to your situation with personal reflection questions and scenarios

This book was created especially for K-12 educators, administrators, and others looking to enact change and create safe spaces for transgender and non-binary youth. From daily life in the classroom to policy at the highest levels, The Advocate Educator's Handbook will help educators & their community work toward meaningful change.

From the Back Cover

A hands-on guide to creating inclusive classrooms for transgender youth

"As President Barack Obama's Secretary of Education, I fought to ensure a safe, non-discriminatory environment for transgender young people in our nation's public schools and higher education institutions. The Advocate Educator's Handbook is rooted in the same inarguable premise that fueled those efforts: that trans youth have a right to learn in welcoming, nurturing schools where they can grow, be themselves, and live joyously. The Advocate Educator's Handbook establishes a blueprint for creating, in your classroom and your school, the environment of acceptance trans youth need to succeed."
--Dr. John King, Former U.S. Secretary of Education, Chancellor, SUNY University System

"We all deserve the right to live, work, and thrive no matter our sexual orientation or gender identity--no exceptions. The Advocate Educator's Handbook is a timely and important tool in the fight for the freedoms we all deserve, and a critical resource to support trans and non-binary students."
--Becky Pringle, President, National Education Association

Visit www.theadvocateeducator.com for additional information and resources.

About the Author

Vanessa Ford (she/her) is an award-winning educator and author. Her children's book, Calvin, won the 2022 Lambda Literary Award for Best Children's Book. Ford was a classroom teacher for 14 years in DC Public Schools and her advocacy has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Newsweek and NPR. She was a founding member of The Human Rights Campaign's Parents for Transgender Equality Council and sat for two years on the board of the National Center for Transgender Equality. She lives with her husband and two children, one of whom is trans, near Boston. Learn more about Vanessa's work at www.jrandvanessaford.com.

Rebecca Kling (she/her) is an educator, organizer, storyteller, and advocate for social change. Kling served as the community storytelling advocate and director of education programming at the National Center for Transgender Rights, as well as on the leadership team of Harbor Camps, a sleepaway summer camp for trans and non-binary youth. She is also the co-founder of Better World Collaborative, a social impact consulting firm working to combat the recent flood of anti-trans legislation. She lives in Chicago with her two cats. Learn about Rebecca's work at www.rebeccakling.com and www.bwcollab.com.