Portland To Host 7 PPS Staff Members Honored For Their Support Of LGBTQ Students

From Portland Public Schools:

December 17, 2019

Portland To Host 7 PPS Staff Members Honored For Their Support Of LGBTQ Students

Seven staff members from Portland Public Schools were recognized for their outstanding work in supporting our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning students. They were among the 15 individuals and organizations honored Saturday at the eighth annual Oregon Safe Schools Awards at Chemeketa Community College in Salem.

The awards are administered by the Oregon Safe Schools and Communities Coalition, a statewide organization that “seeks to create safe schools and communities where every family can belong, every educator can teach, and every child can learn regardless of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.”

The PPS honorees:

• Derek Henderson, program coordinator, Office of School Modernization
• Frank Leavitt, senior manager, Facilities Services & Operations
• Jess Firestone, counselor, Buckman Elementary School
• Michael Sanchez, counseling secretary, Jefferson High School
• Leo Soell, teacher, fourth and fifth grades, Sunnyside Environmental School
• Jean Winters, paraeducator, Faubion K-8 School
• David Martinez, program associate, Humanities

The award winners take the lead in creating a safe, inclusive climate for students in numerous ways. For example Sanchez, in his time at Ockley Green Middle School and Jefferson, has advocated for safe spaces in schools -- not just classrooms, but entire buildings full of dedicated, LGBTQ-committed persons ready to support students every day.

Martinez serves on the district’s Racial Equity and Social Justice leadership committees and is a long-time member of the district’s LGBTQ affinity group. He uses those roles to make sure the district maintains meaningful inclusion for all students.

Henderson and Leavitt have been the driving force for the district’s participation in Pride Northwest’s annual festival and parade, leading the way for it to become a serious, authentic experience for PPS students and staff. Their efforts have played a significant role in improving the understanding and visibility of our LGBTQ community

The awards were a reflection of Portland Public Schools’ commitment to supporting LGBTQ students, a commitment reiterated in the revised Non-Discrimination/Anti-Harassment Policy the Board of Education approved in April 2018. This was followed by the approval of an Administrative Directive to create a safe and welcoming environment for transgender, nonbinary and gender diverse students.

The district makes online resources available to help educators support LGBTQ students and their families:

• A FAQ for employees on LGBTQ matters
• A guide of best practices for serving LGBTQ students, written by the South Poverty Law Center
• Full webpage of resources for students, parents and families, and teachers, coaches and others.

Congratulations, and thank you, to our Safe Schools honorees for 2019.

This press release was produced by Portland Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.