New York and New Jersey
Both New York and New Jersey have strong anti-bullying laws that address bias-based bullying. These laws have helped to generate a strong interest in bringing Welcome schools to schools in metropolitan areas as well as districts in upstate New York. Welcoming Schools Regional Consultant Aimee Gelnaw helps schools across the region create safer learning environments for all students. Contact Aimee to learn more about Welcoming Schools' work in New York and New Jersey! |
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Aimee Gelnaw, MsED
Region: New York and New Jersey
Location: Montclair, NJ
Expertise:
Early Childhood Development/Education
LGBT Parenting Advocacy
Anti-bias education
Aimee’s involvement with Welcoming Schools spans five years, initially as an advisor and consultant, as a member of the original National Advisory Council, and more recently as a Regional Consultant. In her current capacity, Aimee works with schools and districts to promote learning environments that are welcoming for all students and families. She serves schools and districts in the New York Metropolitan area, primarily in New Jersey and Westchester and is available to provide consultation in western Massachusetts as well.
As a longtime schools advocate, beginning in 1989, Aimee has worked in the areas of LGBT inclusion and family diversity with teachers, administrators, families and undergraduate teacher education candidates. She has authored articles and a college course text on creating welcoming early childhood environments for LGBT families and taught a course on the topic at two universities. Aimee has served as the executive director of the Family Equality Council and as director of education at GLSEN she has also held several positions in child care as a teacher, administrator and education director and as a faculty member and chairperson of an Early Childhood Education department.
Aimee splits her time between New Jersey and western Massachusetts. She is the mom of an adult son, Zachary, and a teenage daughter, Dewey.
One thing that excites me about Welcoming Schools is…
“…that, after years working on LGBT awareness, sensitivity and inclusion in schools, I believe Welcoming Schools is the pitch perfect tool for growing school communities united around making schools safe and welcoming for all children and families across all areas of sameness and difference. Through engaging the whole community Welcoming Schools creates systemic change that will enrich and maximize the potential and contributions of all members of every school community. And finally, as a tool that addresses school culture and promotes universal respect at the elementary level, Welcoming Schools has the potential to stop bullying before it even begins and to prepare children to thrive in a richly diverse world.”
