Post submitted by Cheryl Greene, Deputy Director of Welcoming Schools

Welcoming Schools is proud to announce the completion of another District-Wide Facilitator Training, this time with the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) in Wisconsin. MMSD is the latest district to make a system-wide commitment to implementing the Welcoming Schools approach.

On August 7-10, I joined Program Director Johanna Eager and Expert Trainers Michele Hatchell and Toni Smith in Madison. We worked intensively with a select group of 19 individuals within the district, training them in the Welcoming Schools approach and preparing them to deliver our professional development modules to their district colleagues. GSAFE WI was also at the training.

With 19 Welcoming Schools Facilitators, MMSD will be able to train elementary school teachers and throughout the district. Possessing the necessary skills and knowledge to make learning environments more inclusive, teachers will translate what they learn to their classrooms, benefitting all the students in their care. We know that when students feel a sense of belonging at school, they are more highly motivated and engaged in learning. 

After four invigorating days of training, I was humbled by the overwhelmingly positive and validating feedback from the MMSD participants:

• “I am so excited about this training because I get to infuse this amazing information into my body and give that knowledge to others, and that is totally energizing.”
• “It's been a long time since I've felt so inspired by the work we are doing for children. This feels amazing!”
• “I have been teaching for 23 years, and Welcoming Schools is by far the best, most important program I have seen. I am so grateful this came into my life!”
• "You have made me better. You have planted a seed and I will grow this work. Promise!"

We’re so pleased to bring MMSD into the fold. They’ve demonstrated their commitment to providing safe and welcoming schools for all students through their outstanding work during the Facilitator Training. The district even funded a “Welcoming Schools Coordinator” position to support the district’s efforts.

The District-Wide Facilitator Training is open to any district that would like to increase their internal capacity to provide Welcoming Schools training to their staff. If you would like to bring the Facilitator Training to your district, please contact us.

HRC's Welcoming Schools is the nation's premier program dedicated to creating respectful and supportive elementary schools by embracing family diversity, creating LGBTQ- and gender-inclusive schools, preventing bias-based bullying, a supporting transgender and non-binary students.