Head of School Bryn Roberts sent a note to families and faculty on Jan. 18 about guidelines created for the K-12 community around gender inclusivity. Approved unanimously by the Board of Trustees, “Guidelines for SPA in Support of Gender Diversity” is the result of two years of effort by Director of Intercultural Life Karen Dye, Upper School Dean of Students Max Delgado, and faculty to equip SPA with the tools to support teachers and students in the constantly evolving nature of gender in today’s society. The opening statement to the new policy reads:

“In creating a safe educational environment where all students, faculty, and staff can be their authentic selves, St. Paul Academy and Summit School embraces practices and policies that support the affirmed gender identity and gender expression of all community members. SPA recognizes gender identity and expression are not binary classifications. In addition to working to create a school free from discrimination for our gender diverse community, we also provide the education and support necessary to foster an educational environment of inclusion, fairness, and equitable treatment for all.”

Two evening events have been scheduled for families to answer questions about the guidelines and hear from guest speakers Dr. Todd Savage and Leslie Lagerstrom. Savage, who has worked with SPA for the last two years on gender guidelines and professional development, is an Associate Professor of School Psychology at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls and is the immediate past president of the National Association of School Psychologists. Leslie Lagerstrom is the mother of a transgender son and will speak about her family’s experiences raising a transgender child. The two parent programs are scheduled: