In an effort to make this guide accessible, comprehensive and user-friendly for a wide audience, we reached out to many reviewers including educators, parents, community organizers and others.
We want to recognize the dedication of schools and districts that piloted the Welcoming Schools Guide, in partnership with community organizations. These districts and organizations include:
Minneapolis Public Schools, New Bedford Public Schools, the Oakland Unified Schools District, The San Francisco Unified School District, Groundspark, Our Family Coalition, Rainbow Families.
Thanks to the many educators who reviewed the Welcoming Schools Guide:
Marty Bubb, Elementary School Librarian; James Cressey, Elementary School Educator; Michael Feldstein, Elementary School Educator; Tom Fowler-Finn, Ph.D., Superintendent, Cambridge Public Schools; Steve Goodwin, Elementary School Principal; Richard Hanelin, Elementary School Educator; Scott Hirschfeld, Elementary School Teacher, Anti-Defamation League; Nancy Jukins, Elementary School Principal; Bob Kim, National Education Association; Sue Kranz, Elementary School Educator; Sue Olsen, Elementary School Educator; Mary Paradise, Elementary School Nurse, NEA GLBT Caucus; Laura Perkins, Elementary School Social Worker; Marilynne Quarcoo, Elementary School Principal; Jo M. Sullivan, Ph.D., Assistant Superintendent, Malden Public Schools; Frieda Takamura, Washington Education Association; Tanieka Taylor, Elementary School Teacher, Gender PAC; Christopher Trombly, Elementary School Principal; Deborah Watters, Curriculum Coordinator.
To the many others who reviewed the Guide:
Allison Bauer, Family Equality Council; Mary Ann Bradley, aMaze; Jennifer Chrisler, Family Equality Council; Mike Courville, Respect for All Project; Meredith Fenton, COLAGE; Gretchen Frasier; Sean Haley; Judy Hoff, PFLAG; Arlene Istar Lev, Choices Counseling and Consulting; Beth Reis, Safe Schools Coalition; Meg Soens; Jim Vetter, Open Circle; Brooke Weiss, GLSEN; Suzanne Arnold and Shelly Zion, National Center for Culturally Responsive Educational Systems.
And to those who provided editorial guidance and contributed to the production of the Guide:
Alison Delpercio, Janice Hughes, Keri McNeill, Sarah Streyle and Heather Wilson.
In addition, we sought input from educators and parent activists regarding implementation of the project. For their input and encouragement, we are thankful to:
John Furey, Beverly D’Andrea, Michele Lowy, Susan Becker, Chelo Keys, Elementary School Educators, Rand School; Robin Cooley, Elementary School Educator; Rev. David M. Horst, First Parish in Malden; Tania Morales; Arielle Rosen, L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center; Rick King; Vivian Carlo, Ed.D., Associate Professor, School of Education, Lesley University; Terry Boggis, Center Kids; Eric Manke, Former Director, California Safe Schools Coalition.; Judy Logan, retired teacher, San Francisco Public Schools.
We acknowledge the work of our colleagues in myriad projects along the way that have both moved the dialogue further and provided inspiration for our work. Thanks to these organizations:
aMaze, COLAGE, Equity Committee of the Toronto District School Board and Elementary Teachers of Toronto, Family Diversity Projects, Family Equality Council, GALE BC, GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network), GLSEN Boston, Greater Boston PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), Lesbian and Gay Parents Association of Buena Vista, National Education Association, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, National SEED Project on Inclusive Curriculum, No Name-Calling Week, Outreach Program for Children with Gender-Variant Behaviors and their Families, PFLAG National (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), Respect For All Project — GroundSpark, Rethinking Schools, Safe Schools Coalition, Teaching Tolerance, Welcoming Schools Project of the Cambridge Public Schools, Wellesley Centers: Center for Research on Women, Wellesley Centers for Women Project on Teasing and Bullying, Zervas Elementary School Respect for Human Differences Committee.
Finally, the entire Welcoming Schools team offers a very special thanks to Kathy Pillsbury, who has steadfastly and passionately shepherded this project along, and who continues to commit many hours each week to see that the dream of Welcoming Schools becomes a reality for all of our children.
