LGBT Educators' Perceptions of School Climate and Implications for School Leaders

• In Event: 66.068 - Social Issues in Learning and Teaching in Educational Leadership Programs

Abstract

Recent research has documented that LGBT educators perceive that homophobia is consistently demonstrated in schools. Nearly all LGBT educators have heard demeaning language about their identities used every day they work, the highest percentage of that language being by students. In fact, the participants perceived administrators as using homophobic language and not many teachers or administrators were seen intervening when students and teachers used homophobic language. School climate, as perceived by LGBT educators, was usually a source of stress. This paper will share descriptive data from a nationwide survey of LGBT educators and provide implications of how school leaders can provide support to this specific population of teachers.

Author

• Tiffany Wright, Millersville University of Pennsylvania