At tonight’s meeting, the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District passed a motion to include gender identity as a protected group in their nondiscrimination and anti-harassment policies. Fairbanks is the first school district in Alaska to add gender identity to it’s nondiscrimination policies.

“Please let everyone know how much I appreciate their support through both letters and testimony at the board meeting,” wrote Barbara McCarthy.

Tonight we celebrate, but there is more work to be done. Now that the policy is in place, we must encourage the board and school administration to provide training for teachers, administrators and staff.

Do you know of a good teacher/administrator in-service training program on gender identity discrimination and harassment in the schools?

“I plan to speak at the next board meeting during the non-agenda time,” Barbara wrote. ‘I want to direct the district to great resources.”

Any suggestions?