Teachable Moment: Transgender Principal Comes Out

BROOKLINE, MA — Last week a principal in this leafy community on the outskirts of Boston sent a letter home to families of students and came out as transgender. The Heath School's Asa Cain Sevelius is the first administrator in the school district and possibly the second in the country to do so publicly and transition on the job.

The response so far? Overwhelmingly supportive.

Last month an administrator came out in California as transgender; the local newspaper there reported the administrator might be the first in the country to do so.

Experts in transgender issues say they are not aware of any other administrators across the country who have transitioned on the job. A spokesperson from the Boston superintendent's office said they were not aware of any principals in the Boston School District as having publicly transitioned either.

"You do tend to hear about teachers a bit more," said National Center for Transgender Equality's Raffi Freedman-Gurspan in Washington, D,C., herself the first openly transgender woman to work at the White House and a former Brookline resident. "I imagine in the coming years this will be more of a common occurrence."

Although numbers of people who identify as transgender are difficult to come by, the National Center for Transgender Equality estimates that around 1 percent of the population is transgender.

"This is hugely significant," said Gender Diversity's Director Aidan Key in Seattle. Gender Diversity specializes in helping explain transgender issues to parents and students. "His courage to do so as well as the reaction thus far. That’s fantastic to hear."

The movement of transgender people and their rights is gaining visibility, even in the political world. Step by step, organizations such as Key's are working to help others understand it.

The biggest road blocks still seem to be media portrayals such as "Jerry Springer" images of cross-dressing or the impression that transgender has something to do with sexuality. "It's hormonal and related to the way the brain is wired. And once people realize it has nothing to do with sexuality they tend to sigh," said Key.

Consider the gay and lesbian movement, he said. "When more people started coming out and sharing that with coworkers, family and neighbors, that’s what demystified previously unknown subjects. That's what's going on here," he said.

Still, Freedman-Gurspan cautioned folks not to see Sevelius as just transgender; "They're still the same person they always were."

The letter home

"Dear Heath Community, I am writing to all of you to share some powerful news about me that will shape our interactions moving forward.... I am transgender," wrote Sevelius in the email to families June 7.

"As a part of my transition, aspects of my body will begin to change over time, a physical difference you and your children will surely notice. Beyond physical aspects, how I am referred to socially will also change.

"I now ask that you use he/him/his pronouns when speaking with me or referring to me – whether I am present in those interactions or not. My title is Dr. Sevelius; my first name is now Asa."

He went on to explain that it was because of his public role, where he was once called Annie and then known as AC or Dr. Sevelius, he made the decision to let the school community know about his transition rather than to quietly transition without talking about it.

Response

Following the public announcement, staff and families took to social media congratulating Sevelius and expressing support.

Superintendent Andrew Bott immediately threw his support behind the principal in a statement following Sevelius' email to Heath School families.

"I appreciate and deeply respect Dr. Sevelius. He is being open, courageous, and honest. As he wrote to families, his transition has come after many years, prolonged introspection, and careful and critical conversations with family and close friends. I fully agree with what Dr. Sevelius said in his letter to families -- the ability to live life openly and authentically will make him a stronger, more effective school leader," said Bott.

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School faculty and parents of students told Patch they supported the principal and his decision to let families know.

Sevelius referred request for comment to the school district, who referred comment to him, but in an early Twitter post it appeared community members were responding positively, as he had met with staff members the day before to let them know this was coming.

Filled up with love and hope this morning. — Asa Sevelius, Ed.D (@ACSevelius) June 7, 2017

A tweet following the announcement sounded even more full of appreciation for the community.

Sevelius joined the Heath School team as vice principal in 2014 before taking over as interim principal the following year and permanent principal this year. And he's long been active in helping to support students in the district when it comes to issues of gender identity. He is part of a Gender Identity Leadership Group, which puts together district protocols and training sessions on how to support students who come forward asking teachers or the administration for support as they transition or question their gender.

In 2012, Massachusetts passed the Act Relative to Gender Identity, which prohibited schools from discriminating against transgender students.

Earlier this year, district administrators and the School Committee made an announcement to the community that, regardless of gender identity, all students and staff should feel accepted in town after President Trump indicated he would roll back some protections.

“The changes at the federal level have no impact or effect on our commitment to transgender students,” said Bott on March 2.

What it all boils down to is a message of hope, said Freedman-Gurspan.

"It's another story that's about someone being true to themselves and honestly a role model," she said. "I can imagine a kid thinking, 'If my principal can feel free to be who they are, I can be myself too.'"

Read the original story here with the full letter. Brookline Principal: 'I'm transgender'

Photo of the Heath School in Brookline By Jenna Fisher/ Patch