Tubbs Teaching Connections Schedule

Welcome

9:00 - 9:15 a.m.
SEC 220

Colleen Mulholland, EdD, Dean, College of Education
Remarks by Linda Tubbs (read by Sunni Kegebein, College of Education Development) 
Jim Stichter, Emcee and Instructor, College of Education 

Keynote 

9:15 - 9:50 a.m.
SEC 220

The Power of Being Seen

Andy Hansen (They/Them), Lead Teacher, Lou Henry Elementary, Waterloo, Iowa 

Join Andy as they talk about living in different environments as a genderqueer individual, from military service during “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” to being proudly out in the streets of San Francisco, to navigating the recent political landscape of Iowa. Hear about how small moments made big impacts, and what that can look like when establishing inclusive spaces for LGBTQIA+ students and staff. 

Concurrent Sessions: Block 1 

10:00 - 10:50 a.m.

LGBTQ+ 101 (SEC 217)

Max Mowitz (He/Him/El, They/Them/Elle), Program Director, Certified Community Health Worker, One Iowa

Join One Iowa for LGBTQ 101! This session will focus on laying the foundations of understanding our community. With a definition of terms, an explanation of gender and sex, an understanding of the disparities faced by the LGBTQ community, and a brief session on using pronouns, our LGBTQ 101 is always the safest place to start understanding the community and becoming an educated ally.  

Supporting LGBTQ+ Pre-service Teachers  (SEC 216)

Kalyani Kannan, LGBTQ+ Student Services Coordinator, UNI Diversity, Inclusion & Social Justice 
Aliza Fones, Assistant Professor, UNI Department of Languages and Literatures

Conversation around supporting LGBTQ+ communities in education often focuses on students and occasionally teachers, leaving pre-service teachers unfortunately overlooked. In this session, attendees will deepen their understanding of relationship power dynamics and develop strategies for supporting LGBTQ+ pre-service teachers as they navigate field experiences in PreK-12 school settings.

OUT in Education:  A Qualitative Study Examining the Intersectionality and the Lived OUT Experiences of PreK–12 LGBTQ+ Educators (SEC 222)

Landon Wood, EdD

Dr. Landon Wood (he/him/his)  will present findings related to the perspectives and lived-experiences of LGBTQIA2S+ educators across the state of Iowa. The goal of this session is to help participants to analyze the lived-out experiences of LGBTQIA2S+ educators to generate research and possible action items to help future educators embrace and center pride in the classroom.

Empowering Student Leadership through GSA (SEC 220)

Holmes Junior High and Waterloo East High School GSA (Gay Straight Alliance)
Anna Rogers, Waterloo East High 
Moderator: Angela Eisenman, Holmes Junior High

Local junior high and high school students share their experiences. The panel members are members of the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) at these schools.

Concurrent Sessions: Block 2

11:00 - 11:50 a.m.

A Look at Gender-Affirming Care in the Cedar Valley (SEC 217)

Rachel Benson, DNP, ARNP, UnityPoint Clinic LGBTQ--Prairie Parkway
Jennifer Jass, DNP, ARNP, UNI Student Health & Well-being Services

The aim of this presentation is to address how we can overcome the shortcomings of traditional healthcare for the LGBTQ+ community and its impact on patient’s desire to seek care as well as the impact on their mental health.

Strategies for Succeeding as a Queer Professional (SEC 222)

Dwight Watson, EdD

This session will focus on Watson's journey as a Black, queer higher-education professional. From elementary teacher to university president, what were the successes and setbacks along the way?  How can professionals offset sexual identity politics by focusing on their own agency, advocacy, action and accountability?  Personal anecdotes and strategies will be shared.

Engaging Effective Advocacy and Allyship (SEC 216)

Katy Crowley, university student and LGBTQ+ advocate 

From being in the closet to being visibly out in the public eye, Katy Crowley (they/she) will share their experiences with queer student advancement in traditionally conservative settings. This presentation covers the learning curves they’ve faced serving LGBTQ+ people, and what educators can do to support and empower their students engaging in advocacy work. 

Dealing with Challenges in Books & Materials (SEC 220)

Johnnie Blunt, PhD, librarian for education and youth services, UNI Rod Library 
Keenan Crow, One Iowa

In Iowa parents or guardians can request the removal of books or educational materials in classrooms or libraries.  This session will discuss handling challenges to materials, advocating for your classroom selections and supporting students who don’t have access to books that reflect the diversity and complexity of their own lives.

Lunch

Noon - 1:00 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions: Block 3

1:00 - 2:15 p.m. 

Implementing Instructional Strategies to Support LGBTQ+ University-Level Students (Panel) (SEC 216)

Moderator: Aliza Fones, PhD 
Jeff Byrd, UNI Art
Jeremy Schraffenberger, UNI Languages & Literatures
Heather Jeronimo, UNI Languages and Literatures
Susan Hill, UNI Philosophy & World Religions

The luminous Bell Hooks wrote, “The classroom remains the most radical space of possibility in the academy," and this panel of UNI faculty and instructors will provide considerations and strategies for creating a supportive and sustaining classroom environment at the university level for our LGBTQ+ pre-service teachers. Drawing from the movement in higher education to "Queer the Curriculum," this session addresses the powerful ways that faculty can create affirming spaces for trans and queer pre-service teachers in higher education. 

Succeeding as LGBTQ+ Educators (Panel) (SEC 217)

Moderator: Regina Weekley, CEO, Weekley Connection Consulting and Director of Equity, Waterloo Community School District (WCSD)
Jacob Cash, Project Lead the Way teacher and coach, Bunger Middle School, WCSD
Sheena Canady, Director of At-Risk and Student Services, WCSD
Ashley Reimer, Assistant Principal, Bunger Middle School, WCSD
Andy Hansen, Lead Teacher, Lou Henry Elementary, WCSD 

Succeeding as an LGBTQ+ educator can sometimes be challenging.  Join our panel of LGBTQ educational leaders as they share personal journeys and the lessons that shape their leadership. Reflecting on their past, they offer advice to their younger selves. Please submit questions in advance for a thoughtful discussion.

Legislative Updates (SEC 220)

Jordan Mix, Education Director, Iowa Safe Schools

In this session, Mix will work with participants to understand the nuts and bolts of new Iowa education legislation (Senate File 496) affecting LGBTQ youth. Attendees will be able to summarize the core concepts governed by SF 496 and differentiate between the law and individual school district policies. They will work with Mix to formulate questions meant to deepen their understanding of policies within their district, and determine strategies for advocating for students and practicing inclusivity under new laws.

LGBTQ+ at UNI: Experiences of University Students (Student Panel) (SEC 222)

Gabe B. (He/Him)
Nic T. (She/They)
Danny T. (He/They)
Jazz J. (They/Them)
Sam Z. (They/Them)

Moderator: Paula Myatt

The UNI LGBTQ+ Student Panel is a Q&A-style panel designed for attendees who are curious about what it is like living and attending class at the University of Northern Iowa as a queer student.

Closing Presentation

2:30 - 3:00 p.m. 
SEC 220

Where Do We Go From Here? 

Moderator: Jordan Mix, Iowa Safe Schools