CA Teacher Announces Transition; Will Return From Break As Female

[Carolyn Marie]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/21/karen-adell-scot-transgender-teacher-_n_5008586.html

I wonder what kind of training for staff, if any, has been done to smooth her path? Seems like a rather sudden move (and well publicized) , but perhaps there are details that have been left out of the story. Some education is clearly in order.

Carolyn Marie

[VickySGV]

One of her co teachers was in the interview, and based on the needs the colleague identified, the school district has good intentions, but is like Sherlock Holmes after a three day binge on cheap wine!! Totally clueless!!

With some of the most enlightened school districts in the world here in CA, we have next door neighbors geographically that are in ages darker than you can ever believe. They will not confer with each other and use each other as resources. There is a need for something to correct that. Not only on gender, but other issues as well, such as student health or nutrition.

[Guest KimberlyF]

So California is finally gonna have a teacher transition on the job? Interesting.

[Carolyn Marie]

We already have trans teachers in California. One is a member here. I haven't heard of any problems.

Carolyn Marie

[VickySGV]

I did not know we have a CA teacher here as a member, but I did know that we have them in several places here in the state and more at the college level. My lament above is leveled at the school districts who do not yet have policies and formats for facilitating inclusion of Trans* teachers, and who re-invent the wheel instead of relying on information from each other on how best to do it. I am a firm believer in imitating success and respectfully "ripping off" a workable and effective way of doing things when they are available.

[JJ]

Actually we have a post-op teacher from California who transitioned on the job if I remember right. I suspect there have been quite a few that didn't get picked up by the press as well. Some districts likely just prefer to keep it low profile.

Now if it happened in Arkansas that would be something. One day I believe it will but also don't think it'll be universally accepted here for the foreseeable future. They are still 50 years and more behind the rest of the country. There is not a minorty teacher that I am aware of teaching in this school district so LGBT issues are unthinkable. Kind of surprising how different the areas of the country can be.

Also I think we need to see the people who are willing to become news and risk all that entails to transition on the job as heroes. They are the ground breakers for all trans people really. Not an easy thing to be or an easy choice to make but they drive change and acceptance

Johnny

[Carolyn Marie]

Here is a follow-up article:

http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/transgender-teacher-returns-school-woman-n60076

The concerns I expressed in my first post were unfounded, as it turns out. It was supposed to be a quiet and well planned transition, but some jerk staffer leaked her letter to admin, and all bets were off. I faced a similar situation in the days before my social transition. It really can get ugly, and you lose control of the situation. I feel for Scot, and hope she can carry this off.

Carolyn Marie

[Guest KimberlyF]

The first article mentions a teacher's suicide from the UK, so I just assumed that it must be rare and there couldn't be any successful teachers in Cal who have transitioned without incident. Just that one teacher in the UK, and that ended poorly. Anyone reading this dealing with issues like this might wonder if there is hope.

The second article is just insulting. Do not ask about genetalia, but we'll show and tell you how one transitions! Whoever leaked this must have forced this teacher to agree to the photo shoot too.

"Under a long auburn wig and makeup, wearing a blue flowered dress and size 12W open-toed shoes..."

Ah! She must be TG! Look what she's wearing.