Books
Dignity for All
The author provides professional development ideas and strategies that will help educational leaders foster a more caring school culture not only for LGBT students, but for all students.
- Grade Level: PreK-12, Elementary, Secondary
- ISBN: 9781452205908
- Published By: Corwin
- Year: 2012
- Page Count: 136
- Publication date: March 06, 2012
Price: $31.95
Description
All students deserve a safe, respectful school environment
Students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered are susceptible to harassment from their peers and are at high risk of dropping out of school. This book provides professional development ideas and real-life vignettes that will help educational leaders foster a more caring school culture not only for LGBT students, but for all students. Peter DeWitt presents specific strategies for school leaders that include:
- Implementing a student code of conduct and school board policies to safeguard students
- Helping staff members recognize and respond to overt and covert LGBT issues
- Professional development guidelines to equip staff to intervene
- Ways to include appropriate LGBT topics in the curriculum
- Supporting Gay-Straight Alliances (GSA) in middle and high school settings
This practical and compassionate guide contains numerous cases and examples, strategies and templates for codes of conduct (including the NY Code), book study questions, and links to pertinent articles, websites, and blogs for further information. Dignity for All helps inform educators of the issues and methods for building acceptance in a diverse world.
Author(s)
Peter M. DeWitt
Peter DeWitt (Ed.D) is the founder and CEO of the Instructional Leadership Collective. He was a K-5 teacher for 11 years and a principal for 8 years. For the last 10 years, he has been facilitating professional learning nationally, and internationally, based on the content of many of his best-selling educational books.
DeWitt's professional learning relationships are a monthly hybrid approach that includes both coaching and the facilitating workshops on instructional leadership and collective efficacy.
Additionally, in the Summer of 2021, DeWitt created a year long on-demand, asynchronous coaching course through Thinkific where he has created a community of learners that include k-12 educators in leadership positions.
DeWitt's work has been adopted at the state level, university level, and he works with numerous school districts, school boards, regional networks, ministries of education around North America, Australia, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the U.K.
Peter writes the Finding Common Ground column for Education Week, which has been in circulation since 2011. In 2020 DeWitt co-created Education Week's A Seat At the Table where he moderates conversations with experts around the topics of race, gender, sexual orientation, research, trauma and many other educational topics.
Additionally, DeWitt is the Series Editor for the Connected Educator Series (Corwin Press) and the Impact Series (Corwin Press) that include books by Viviane Robinson, Andy Hargreaves, Pasi Sahlberg, Yong Zhao and Michael Fullan.
He is the 2013 School Administrators Association of New York State's (SAANYS) Outstanding Educator of the Year, and the 2015 Education Blogger of the Year (Academy of Education Arts & Sciences), and sits on numerous advisory boards.
Peter is the author, co-author or contributor of numerous books. Click on title to purchase. They include:
Dignity for All: Safeguarding LGBT Students (Corwin Press. 2012).
Flipping Leadership Doesn't Mean Reinventing the Wheel (Corwin Press. 2014)
Collaborative Leadership: 6 Influences That Matter Most (Corwin Press/Learning Forward).
School Climate: Leading With Collective Teacher Efficacy (Corwin Press/ Ontario Principals Council. 2017).
Coach It Further: Using the Art of Coaching to Improve School Leadership (Corwin Press. 2018).
Instructional Leadership: Creating Practice Out Of Theory (Corwin Press. 2020).
Collective Leader Efficacy: Strengthening the Impact of Instructional Leadership Teams (Corwin Press. Learning Forward. 2021).
De-implementation: Creating the Space to Focus on What Works (Corwin Press. 2022).
Leading with Intention - Developing self-awareness to fostering an unreasonable human interconnectedness to impact the school community (co-authored with Michael Nelson. Corwin Press. 2024).
Peter's articles have appeared in educational research journals at the state, national and international level. His books have been translated into numerous languages.
Some of the organizations Peter has worked with are the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), Learning Forward, National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), University of Oklahoma, Cognition Education (New Zealand), Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL), Victoria Department of Education (Australia), University of Rotterdam (Netherlands), Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA), Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA), the National Education Association (NEA), New Brunswick Teacher's Association (Canada), the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), Education Scotland (Scotland), Glasgow City Council (Scotland), Kuwait Technical College (Kuwait) the National Association of School Psychologists, ASCD, l’Association des directions et directions adjointes des écoles franco-ontariennes (ADFO), the Catholic Principals’ Council of Ontario (CPCO), and the Ontario Principals’ Council (OPC), National School Climate Center, GLSEN, PBS, NPR, BAM Radio Network, ABC, and NBC's Education Nation.
Learn more about bringing Peter DeWitt to your school or district at petermdewitt.com
Table of Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Author
1. The Silent Minority
Our School Experiences
What It Means to Be Gay
The Need for Role Models
Harassment and Discrimination of LGBT Students
Negative Stereotypes of LGBT Students
Conclusion
Action Steps
Discussion Questions
2. Bullying of LGBT Students
Where Bullying Behavior Begins
Cyberbullying
Setting the Tone in School
Safeguarding and Supporting LGBT Students
Conclusion
Action Steps
Discussion Questions
3. The Role of Schools
The Impact Schools Can Have on LGBT Students
Keeping Students Safe
Teacher Biases
Professional Development
Parent Outreach
Conclusion
Action Steps
Discussion Questions
4. Curriculum Matters
Diverse Literature at an Age-Appropriate Level
Supportive Learning Environments for LGBT Students
Curriculum
Elementary School Gender Differences and Character Education
English Language Arts
Social Studies
Guest Speakers Who Address Bullying
After-School Enrichment
Conclusion
Action Steps
Discussion Questions
5. Gay-Straight Alliances
Why Schools Should Offer a GSA
The Parameters of Creating a GSA
Events Held by a GSA
Conclusion
Action Steps
Discussion Questions
6. Following Through: School Board Policies and Codes of Conduct
Laws That Support School Decisions
School Leaders Embracing the Sexual Diversity of Students
A Shared Vision: Creating School Codes of Conduct
Creating School Board Policies
How Parents, Staff, and Students Can Help
Conclusion
Action Steps
Discussion Questions
Questions to Ponder
7. Important Stories From Higher Education
Appendix: NASP Position Statement: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Youth
References
Index
Reviews
"Dignity for All is a wise book that will help administrators, teachers, and parents work together to make sure that our schools are welcoming for all of our students. Peter DeWitt provides the insight and ideas to lead the way in including LGBT students."Diane Ravitch, Research Professor
New York University
"In this book, a group of students that is often misunderstood and frequently maligned finds a voice. Educators whose reach extends to every student will discover here a deeper understanding of these students’ needs as well as sound advice on addressing those needs."Carol Ann Tomlinson, William Clay Parrish, Jr. Professor
University of Virginia Curry School of Education
“Leaders set the tone for their buildings. Peter DeWitt offers an important resource for teachers and administrators that will help create an inclusive school for all students.”Todd Whitaker, Professor
Dept of Educational Leadership, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN
"Dignity for All provides educators with critical information on the experiences of LGBT students in our schools and how to create safe and affirming spaces for these youth. Grounded in his experience as a teacher and school administrator, Peter DeWitt makes vital knowledge accessible for those on the front lines in schools."Eliza Byard, Executive Director
Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
"This book is a valuable resource guide for schools considering a course of action. It is recommended for all high schools seeking progressive change."Kevin Beach
Other Titles in: LGBT Issues | Leadership | School Culture & Climate