LGBTQ+ Inclusivity in Education
2023 Bill and Linda Tubbs Teaching Connections
What can we learn from today’s students as both pre-service and in-service educators and faculty preparing future teachers?
What does it mean to be an LGBTQ+ educator in today’s world?
How can we better address the education and social needs of LGBTQ+ students as educators?
These questions and more will be addressed as the Bill and Linda Tubbs Teaching Connections returns as an on campus event on November 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Schindler Education Center at the University of Northern Iowa College of Education. A light lunch is included at this free event.
Who should attend
This professional learning opportunity is open to UNI faculty, staff and students, practicing teachers, teacher leaders, school administrators, other school-related professionals and interested colleagues.
Questions? Contact coe-events@uni.edu.
Keynote Speaker
Andy Hansen will address "The Power of Being Seen" in their keynote address for the Bill and Linda Tubbs Teaching Connections. Holder of a master’s degree in principalship ('20) from the University of Northern Iowa, Hansen is the Lead Teacher at Lou Henry Elementary School in Waterloo, Iowa. Previously they served as a general education teacher for 13 years at both Lou Henry and Paul Revere College Preparatory School in San Francisco, and as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. A May 2021 Gold Star Teacher recipient for excellence in teaching, Hansen's passion for social justice emerged from their varied life experiences: living overseas during childhood, coming out as transmasculine while serving in the military during “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” working in the nonprofit sector and engaging in activism work through drag performance. This passion led to the pursuit of a career in education. They currently live in Waverly, Iowa, where they serve as the chairperson for the City’s Human Equity and Diversity Commission.
Schedule At-A-Glance
9 to 9:15 a.m. -- Welcome, Dean Colleen Mulholland and Jim Stichter, College of Education
9:15 to 9:50 a.m. -- Introduction and Keynote Speaker: Andy Hansen, Waterloo Community School District, speaking on "The Power of Being Seen."
10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. -- Four Concurrent Sessions
LGBTQ+ 101
Empowering Student Leadership through GSA
OUT in Education
Supporting LGBTQ+ Preservice Teachers
11 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. -- Four Concurrent Sessions
Engaging Effective Advocacy and Allyship
Dealing with Challenges in Books & Materials
Strategies for Succeeding as a Queer Professional
LGBTQ+ Health and Wellness
Noon to 1 p.m. -- Lunch
1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. -- Four Concurrent Sessions
Succeeding as LGBTQ+ Educators (Panel)
LGBTQ+ at UNI: Experiences of University Students (Panel)
Legislative Updates
Implementing Instructional Strategies to Support LGBTQ+ Students (Panel)
2:30 to 3 p.m. -- Closing Presentation and Group Discussion
About the Conference
Begun in 2017, this initiative is an annual professional development conference which was renamed in 2019 to reflect the generous donations of Bill and Linda Tubbs to the UNI Foundation. This free, professional development opportunity is intended to provide pre-service teachers, practicing teachers, teacher leaders and other interested colleagues to come together for inspiring professional growth through dialogue and engagement.
Recent speakers and topics have included:
Fall 2022: A half-day virtual conference, "A Day in the life of PreK-12 Teachers in 2022" (Watch Day 1; Watch Day 2)
Fall 2021: A one-day virtual conference, "Teaching and Learning Through a Pandemic"
Fall 2020: A one-day virtual conference, "ACEs: Building Trauma-Sensitive Communities"
January 2020: A two-day conference, "Meeting the Needs of Emergent Bilingual Students and Families"
February 2019: A two-and-a-half day program focused on non-traditional delivery of educational programs, education in the nonprofit setting, youth development and STEM education, featuring alumna Becky Wolfe, M.Ed.
Planning committee
The COE Faculty Senate leads the planning for this event. This year's committee includes, from COE: Jim Stichter, Teaching; Leigh Zeitz, Curriculum and Instruction; Jenny Connolly, CATS Office; Sunni Kegebein, COE Development/Foundation; Amy Curley, Dean’s Office/Events; and Soh Meacham, Dean's Office; and Gabe Barnes, UNI PROUD; Jazz Jensen, UNI PROUD; Wendy Miller, Art Education; and Kalyani Kannen, Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice.