Professional Development Workshops

Professional Development for Educators

The Robert Quartermain Centre for SOGI‐Inclusive Excellence in Education provides professional development workshops for educators on a range of topics and issues. We are also happy to work with you to develop a more specialized workshop to address the needs of your school or district. For more information or to book one of our workshops please reach out to Julia Sinclair-Palm at julia.sinclairpalm@ubc.ca. 

SOGI in the Classroom

In this workshop, you will learn more about what SOGI-inclusive education is​ and how to create SOGI-inclusive classrooms​. We will explore ways to apply SOGI principles​ and create SOGI-inclusive curriculum for new and current educators.  

Navigating Parental Rights and School Policy 

This workshop provides educators with a review of specific provincial policies around sexual orientation and gender identity. We will discuss BC policies and distinguish between teacher, student, and parent rights. In the workshop, we also highlight and outline the responsibilities of educators and how to fulfil duties and responsibilities in line with policy and inclusive values. 

Engaging Parents 

    In this workshop, we will explore how to navigate relationships with parents as educators. Drawing on SOGI-inclusive principles, we will discuss how to advocate for inclusive education in the face of push back and challenges to this work. We will focus on how to use inquiry and curiosity to build relationships with and support parents in understanding SOGI-inclusive practices. 

    SOGI in Elementary and Middle School 

    There are common misunderstandings when it comes to SOGI Inclusive education and practices. In this workshop, we will address myths about SOGI and discuss frequently asked questions and misgivings about SOGI in the early years. We also explore how SOGI inclusion can be woven into elementary and middle school classrooms. 

    Navigating Difficult Conversations 

    In this workshop, we explore what makes a conversation difficult and when and how we may encounter these conversations. We will discuss different learning styles and approaches and ​how they may impact or shape these interactions. We will also address ways to create safer classrooms and containers for curiosity and dialogue. We also look at how we can respond to challenging topics as well how to start difficult conversations in a professional and inclusive way. 

    For more information or to book one of our workshops please reach out to Julia Sinclair-Palm at julia.sinclairpalm@ubc.ca. 

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