Latest School's Out Pride flagship reception holds space for educators, students, and leaders

Returning for its third year, School’s Out, a flagship Pride reception for 2SLGBTQ+ community members and allies, brought educators, teacher candidates, alumni, staff, and students together to celebrate the school year, build connections, and recognize contributions to inclusive education.

Since its inception, the event has been held in collaboration with the TDSB Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Network. The partnership helps with supports outreach, community engagement and strengthening connections between OISE and educators working in schools.

Dr. Jen Gilbert, professor and chair of the Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning (CTL), was the driving force behind the creation of the initiative. Master of Teaching (MT) students Ally Thomas, and Hannah Kim-Cragg, and Master of Arts student Erica Sung, research assistants with Gilbert’s queer trans book club, helped organize the event.

Conversations, connections, convictions

The evening featured icebreakers, including a bingo card, an art-and-crafts corner, and poster boards, where folks could share ideas and start conversations.

During the event, OISE faculty shared warm remarks, including from Joseph Flessa, professor in the Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education (LHAE) and Associate Dean, Programs; Dr. Lance McCready, associate professor with LHAE; Dr. Andrew B. Campbell, assistant professor; Assistant Professor Ashley R. Moore; and Dakota Randall, MT program instructor and TDSB primary school teacher.

Each paid tribute to impactful 2SLGBTQ+ educators, emphasized the importance of action in the present, and reinforced an overarching message: attendees are allowed to take up space, but folks must cultivate it first.

The student trio – Thomas, Kim-Cragg and Sung – also spoke about a zine they made with the queer trans book club. The spoke about the significance of making art together, and shared heartfelt words of gratitude to those who supported them along their journey.

The zine started last year and was featured at the previous year’s School’s Out event, where it served as a visual component honouring that year’s theme “The Queer Trans Education we deserve.”

This year’s zine, titled ‘Our Medley of Queer Joy,’ includes 12 submissions reflecting on how being a queer educator or access to queer media affects their lives.

“To see it all come together, it was such a collaborative effort, Ally scanned in the stickers and the tape, Hannah drew elements, Ally hand painted in water colour,” Sung says.

Witnessing the event she felt “It’s so special to have people that overlap in our identity, and to have allies who make the space for us, it is the people who make it great” Sung added.      

As Sung transitioned from the Master of Education program to her current program as a Master of Arts Student in Language and Literacies Education, she was supported by Dr. Gilbert, who provided her with opportunities to work in an expanded capacity toward the event. She credits her mentor and supervisor, Dr. Moore, who helped expand her understanding of what queer and trans pedagogy and language education can be.  

Amy-Lynn Greig, a Toronto District School Board high school teacher, in Visual Arts and Drama is a reoccurring guest over its three-year long run, representing TDSB GSA.

“It has gotten more personable over the years. [I really love] the stories of the teacher candidates, [it] has become a lot of the focus which has been really heartening to see,” she says.   

She sees the event as inspirational and hopes that more queer students see themselves reflected and recognize that there is a future for them. “Within an inclusive organization, it can still feel Othering. The more people that we can encourage, the general diversity, the better it is going to be for everyone.”

Vice principal Jordan Applebaum, a TDSB GSA member, shared the same sentiment – it can be an isolating experience to enter the school space as a queer educator or student. The GSA holds meetings with teacher candidates to support them and place them in schools to establish connections with existing queer teachers.

The GSA believes in the power of belonging, and hosts a similar event called the EnVision Conference, where Dr. Campbell was featured as a guest speaker. Applebaum credits the educators who came before him for, supporting the work that founding staff advisors undertake.

“This is the stuff that really inspires students, helps them [be comfortable] and see they can be who they are,” says Applebaum. “The more this grows, the more we have people to connect with and support each other so we can feel stronger and do the important work of lifting people up.” 

“Celebrated, connected and inspired”

Two attendees – an upcoming first year MT student Ashleigh Wint, and MT alumna and secondary school music teacher Vanessa Ng – shared their thoughts on attending the day.

“I just want to surround myself [and get familiar with] OISE [related events] as possible [before I start in the fall.] It is an important event and important for the queer community to feel supported,” says Wint.

She feels more representation matters in schools and is supportive of what OISE represents towards all identities.

Ng learned of the event through tagging along with their partner who is a part of the queer book club, and by proxy made her own friends within it.

“We’re all here just to get to know each other and share what works for us and share our experiences and I find that always helps facilitate interesting conversations,” says Ng. 

She shares how inspiring it is “seeing queer people of all ages [from different walks of life] finding success as educators, as a lot of queer people struggle with mental health issues.”

She recommends that everyone join next year, as everyone is fun and friendly, stating that Gilbert has built so much through this book club in the short time it has been running.

Dimensions of Pride: Learning in Colour

Lisa Juan, the Department of Curriculum, Teaching & Learning (CTL)’s Communications & Events Coordinator, maintains the core purpose of the School’s Out initiative by “centering recognition, connection, and community-building throughout the program,” she says.

She created this vibrant mosaic, called the Dimensions of Pride: Learning in Colour.

Originally made for the Display Your Pride event, the blended colours and folded squares highlight the unique contributions of each individual in fostering an inclusive community. 

The School’s Out organizers are already beginning work for next year’s reception. Anyone who is interested in participating are asked to contact Lisa Juan directly.