LGBTQ+: Policies, Safeguarding, and Transgender Support

Professional school counselors and administrators are increasingly recognizing the diversity of their students’ gender identities and, however well-intentioned, may feel ill-equipped to support them. Participants are invited to join Dr. Emily Meadows in this interactive 6-hour course to consider the what, why, and how of transgender student support.

The objective of the course is to cultivate a deeper understanding of gender diversity, as well as both the risks and protective factors that impact safety and belonging in international schools.
The course will guide participants through practical structures and skills to support transgender students with an emphasis on safety and belonging through research-based best practice and policy.

Intended Audience

This course welcomes international school counselors and administrators supporting students at any grade level and in any cultural context. Participants new to transgender student support are especially welcome. Considerations will be made for those working in socially conservative schools and regions.

ASCA Professional Standards and Ethical Standards and Practices

A.10. Underserved and At-Risk Populations School counselors:

a. Strive to contribute to a safe, respectful, nondiscriminatory school environment in which all members of the school community demonstrate respect and civility.

b. Advocate for and collaborate with students to ensure students remain safe at home and at school. A high standard of care includes determining what information is shared with parents/ guardians and when information creates an unsafe environment for students.

c. Identify resources needed to optimize education.

d. Collaborate with parents/guardians, when appropriate, to establish communication and to ensure students’ needs are met.

e. Understand students have the right to be treated in a manner consistent with their gender identity and to be free from any form of discipline, harassment or discrimination based on their gender identity or gender expression.

Essential Questions

1. How can I support transgender students within my cultural and professional context?
2. How should a school consider LGBTQ+ inclusion through a safeguarding lens?
3. How might I respond when when faced with complicated situations involving LGBTQ+ matters at school?
4. What does the research say about how to best support LGBTQ+ students?
5. What policy measures can a school put in place to build transgender safety and belonging?

Participants will have knowledge about:

1. The difference between sexual orientation and gender identity, including terminology relevant to each.
2. How the cycle of socialization reinforces gender norms.
3. Why transgender youth are at significantly increased risk for a number of negative mental health outcomes.
4. The connection between child safeguarding and LGBTQ+ belonging.
5. The role of schools in supporting LGBTQ+ children’s healthy development.

Participants will be able to:

1. Support transgender students who are coming out and/or transitioning
2. Apply counseling skills to foster productive conversations with school community members in order to build safety and belonging for LGBTQ+ students.
3. Draw from current research and theory to effectively respond to complex transgender related matters in schools such as bathroom access, sports, privacy, and pronouns.
4. Advocate for research-backed school policies that improve safety and belonging for transgender students.

Dr. Emily Meadows

Dr. Emily Meadows (she/her) is an LGBTQ+ consultant for international schools. In addition to her doctoral degree, Emily holds master’s degrees in both Sexual Health and Counseling, and has worked as an international school counselor for over a decade. She researches, publishes, and trains school communities on equitable policy and practice, while also teaching for the LGBT Health Policy & Practice graduate program at George Washington University. Emily is a Council of International Schools affiliated consultant and an International Schools Services affiliated consultant, and has developed inclusion standards, referenda, and trainings for professional organizations such as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), the International School Counselor Association (ISCA), The Fulbright Commission, the Association for International Educators and Leaders of Color (AIELOC), the Association for the Advancement of International Education (AAIE) and the American Psychological Association (APA). Having spent more than half of her life in international schools, Emily specializes in culturally-relevant solutions to promote LGBTQ+ safety, equity, and belonging worldwide.

ISCA Member Price: $300

Non-Member Price: $380

Dates and times of offerings:

Option 2: May 19, 2026 and May 26, 2026 @11 AM to 2PM UTC

Contact Hours: 6 hours

Time commitment between sessions: N/A

Required Resource(s): N/A