Stress and Resilience in Transgender and Nonbinary Teachers in K–12 Education

• In Event: Friday Roundtable Session 3:05 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Trans Disciplinary Approaches to Improving Queer, Trans Climate (Table 18)

Abstract

Two Spirit, transgender, intersex, non-binary and gender non-conforming (2STING) teachers face significant additional stress in their careers. This explanatory sequential mixed methods study assessed stress and resilience in 134 2STING teachers in the United States and conducted interviews with twelve teachers. The results uncovered intolerable conditions for many teachers, even those in states with long-standing anti-discrimination policies in place. All participants interviewed reported harassment at work, at least one hostile colleague, and at least one supportive colleague. Twenty-five percent of participants interviewed have already left their careers in education. Participants reported alarming rates of suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. All learning communities must change the culture surrounding these issues to help keep our LGB and 2STING educators and students alive.

Authors

• Matthew Rice, Bard High School Early College Newark

• Leanne L. Howell, Baylor University