Transgender Students and Inclusivity
Transgender young people have the right to attend school and be treated with respect and dignity. However, they can frequently face barriers to inclusion – whether from other young people, teachers, school policies, or the wider school community.
- Explore these barriers
- Understand the legal obligations schools have for transgender young people
- Navigate recommendations on how schools can be places of inclusivity for all their students
Presented by Michael Cabral Tarry, Field Officer (Rainbow Taskforce Coordinator), New Zealand Post Primary Teachers Association Te Wehengarua
Description
Attend and earn 1 CPD hour
* This interactive online recording includes questions and quizzes requiring critical thinking about the topics, so you have no annual limits to the number of points/hours you can claim with this format of learning. Please verify with your CPD rules
Chair
Linda Clouston, Senior Counsellor, Westlake Girls High School
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the legal obligations of schools to support and include transgender students
- Learn practical strategies and recommendations for fostering an inclusive and respectful school environment for transgender young people
Presenters
Linda Clouston, Senior Counsellor, Westlake Girls High School
Linda Clouston currently holds a part-time position as a senior counsellor at Westlake Girls High School. Her previous roles have included Head of Learning Enhancement (encompassing Counselling and Learning Support), Dean, Resource Teacher of Learning and Behaviour, as well as team leader and classroom teacher. Her diverse experiences eventually led her to counselling, a field that has proven to be a strong fit for her skills and interests. In addition to her work as a school counsellor, she provides supervision to Deans and other middle managers at two other schools, offering advice, guidance, and support to enhance both their professional effectiveness and wellbeing. She views conferences as valuable opportunities for learning and networking, essential for counsellors to remain effective practitioners while ensuring the safety and wellbeing of both students and themselves. She is particularly passionate about equipping students with the tools they need to succeed at their level and ensuring they are treated fairly and equitably. She also recognises the importance of fostering resilience and happiness in young people. For her, ongoing professional development is not only a requirement of best practice but also an opportunity for growth—both invigorating and, at times, challenging.
Michael Cabral Tarry, Field Officer (Rainbow Taskforce Coordinator), New Zealand Post Primary Teachers Association Te Wehengarua
Michael Cabral-Tarry (he/him) is a field officer with the New Zealand Post-Primary Teachers’ Association Te Wehengarua. He looks after schools across South Auckland – and is the national field officer for Te Tōpūtanga Āniwaniwa, the PPTA’s Rainbow Network. A union activist for over two decades, Michael was a teacher for 14 years in schools across Northland and Auckland. As a teacher and trade unionist, Michael is a strong advocate for all schools to be safe places for all rangatahi to learn at and for all kaiako to teach at. When he’s not at work, Michael enjoys exploring the outdoors with friends and whānau and discovering delicious brunch places with his husband and family.
