Teaching While Queer
Queer Educator Conference!

Call for Proposals

Coming October 11, 2025!

We are exited to announce the Inaugural Teaching While Queer: Queer Educators Conference 2025, a groundbreaking event designed to bring together queer educators, administrators, policymakers, school counselors, and allies committed to transforming education. This conference is dedicated to empowering 2SLGBTQIA+ educators, fostering inclusive learning environments, and ensuring that all students — especially those from marginalized communities — feel seen, valued, and supported in their academic journeys.

Conference Logisitcs:

Date: October 11, 2025
Time: 9AM – 9PM (UTC-5)
Location: Virtual
Format:
-20-minute and 50-minute presentations
-Q&A included in session time
-All sessions will be recorded and available for six months for paid ticket holders
_Some sessions will be considered for broadcast on our YouTube channel and/or a special episode of the Teaching While Queer podcast with permission from the presenter.

We encourage educators, researchers, activists, and community members to submit proposals that align with the following conference goals:

-Empowering Queer Educators: Create a safe and affirming space for 2SLGBTQIA+ educators, administrators, counselors, and paraprofessionals to connect, share experiences, and gain tools to thrive.
-Advance Inclusive Curriculum: Develop and share innovative strategies for incorporating diverse representation into academic content.
-Strengthen Community & Collaboration: Build a network dedicated to fostering inclusive and equitable learning environments.
-Promote Academic Excellence & Belonging: Ensure all students, particularly those from systemically oppressed communities, feel seen and supported.
-Champion Equity & Representation: Amplify 2SLGBTIQA+ voices in education, policy changes, and systemic transformation.
-Support & Retain Queer Educators: Address challenges faced by queer educators and explore solutions for retention, safety, and career advancement.

We are actively fundraising to make this conference the best that it came be. If you are able to please consider donating.


About Us

Teaching While Queer began as a podcast in 2022 and evolved into a not-for-profit organization in 2024 to support queer educators around the world.

Our Mission

Teaching While Queer’s mission is to create safe schools and communities where every educator can teach, every family can belong, and every child can learn regardless of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

Our Values

Teaching While Queer believes that all educators and youth deserve to feel safe and welcome in our schools and communities.

Community

We believe in the power of authentic connection and community by fostering the wellbeing of Queer educators, honoring lived experiences, promoting safety within school communities, offering resources, and a safe space.

Service

We provide support for all Queer Educators through mentorship, coaching, financial support, crisis mitigation, and referrals to resources we are unable to accommodate.

Advocacy

We create culturally responsive classrooms and communities by elevating the pillars of diversity, inclusion, equity, access, justice, and belong at every level.

Education

We provide professional development opportunities which promote collaborate toward innovative solutions to challenges, helping to enhance queer educators’ problem solving skills thus promoting educational independence for their students.

Our Board

Chair

Bryan Stanton (he/they) is a dynamic leader and advocate in the intersection of theatre education and LGBTQ+ inclusivity. As Board Chair of Teaching While Queer, Bryan champions the voices of queer educators worldwide, striving to create a safer, more inclusive environment where both teachers and students can thrive authentically and free from discrimination.

Bryan’s professional expertise spans over 15 years in live entertainment with SeaWorld, Disney, Legoland, and regional theatre, coupled with advanced academic credentials, including a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Pedagogy. They have collaborated with prestigious organizations like Lincoln Center, The Juilliard School, and the American Alliance for Theatre Education to enhance educational experiences for teachers and students alike.

A sought-after voice in educational theatre and LGBTQ+ advocacy, Bryan has shared their insights on platforms like ThedTalks, Just Do You, and the Character.org Blog. Through their leadership at Teaching While Queer, Bryan fosters a community that supports educators in embracing their identities while navigating the challenges of educational spaces. Their work inspires meaningful change, empowering educators and students to live and learn with confidence, authenticity, and pride.

Vice Chair

Brandon Box-Higdem (he/him) is proud to be a founding board member of Teaching While Queer and serve as Vice Chair.  He is in his 16th year of teaching theater and is passionate about building a classroom space he did not have growing up: a space that not only educates but also creates environments where all students are welcome, where his door is always open, and where LGBTQ+ students can find a home away from home. A champion of inclusivity, kindness, and openness, Box-Higdem has been out and proud since 1993.  Having grown up in the 1980’s, he struggles with some of the same fears, shame, and guilt that many felt from living during that time period, and he works hard to support others when they decide to come out. His mom is his champion, and even though her battle with breast cancer ended her life, her mantra lives on: “Stay the course. Keep the faith. Stay positive.” He can still feel her cheering him on even today.  Brandon doesn’t regulate LGBTQ+ educators and students as needing to be a “content warning” or something meant to be suppressed or simply tolerated, but rather he believes in standing up for what is right, listening before responding, and, above all, approaching everyone with love and kindness. He is thankful for his husband’s support around every bend in the journey they share together with their fur babies: Violet, GiGi, and Alice.

Secretary

Madi Bourdon (she/they) is an openly Queer educator, author, and advocate fostering the well-being of Queer youth and allies through inclusive spaces, mentorship, and empowerment by cultivating a healthy and affirmed sense of belonging.

Madi’s advocacy for Queer youth in education has led her to roles service as a board member within two non-profit organizations, as well as publishing her first book “A Kids Book about Chosen Family”. In 2024, Madi was featured in Education Week discussing the corrosive effect of anti-LGBT policies in schools on LGBTQ+ students’ mental health, following the death of Nex Benedict.

Treasurer

Mike Gagnon (he/him) is a Secondary Education teacher focused in English Language Arts. Additional experience in teaching Career Education, Democracy, and College Preparatory Skills (AVID Trained & AP Lang Trained).

In addition, I have experience at the college level, teaching two Writing Courses: Analyzing and Writing Arguments AND Research and Argument Writing; as well as two entry level courses: Composition AND Literature and Composition

Board Member

Dr. Carla R. Stephens holds a B.A. in Political Science and History as well as a PhD in History from Temple University. Her areas of interest include the transnational nature of the black freedom struggle in the 1950s-1970s, particularly activism by African Americans in the liberation struggles of the former Portuguese colonies in Africa. She also earned her M.S. in Educational Leadership at Montclair State University. Carla became founding faculty at Bard High School Early College in Newark, NJ in 2011. Carla was promoted to the principalship in 2017 and served the youth and Newark community for 6 years. Carla brings leadership training and experience from four years at the United States Naval Academy, leadership training with the National Urban League, a decade as a manager in a Fortune 500 multinational corporation, and 6 years as an educational leader to her new position as Director of the Bard Queer Leadership Project at Bard College at Simon’s Rock.

Board Member

Craig C. Martin (he/him) is an award-winning educator, consultant, and advocate for equity and inclusion in education. As a Board Member of Teaching While Queer, he champions affirming spaces for LGBTQIA+ educators and students.

Craig is the Founder & CEO of CCM Education Group and Founder of Black Boy Joy Summit, dedicated to uplifting Black and Brown male youth. A former teacher, principal, and superintendent, he is an ASCD author and services as President of Massachusetts ASCD. His work focuses on culturally responsive teaching, social-emotional learning, and leadership development.

A proud queer Black educator, Craig is married to Omari Aarons-Martin. His mission is to ensure that queer educators not only survive but thrive, empowering schools to embrace inclusion, belonging, and transformational leadership.

Board Member

Dr. McClain (Dr. Mac) is an Association Professor/Director of Clinical Training in the Counseling Psychology Department at The Chicago School, Chicago, IL. Throughout her career she has provided both direct clinical work as well as supervision. As an administrator she has done grant writing, program development and implementation, and consultation with mental health centers around program development and accreditation preparation. Dr. McClain has presented at the local, state, and national level on topics related to cultural sensitivity, supervision, professional ethics and values conflict, sexuality and sexual wellness, especially as it relates to sexual minority populations. She is a co-founder of the Association of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness (ACSSW), a division of the American Counseling Association. Dr. McClain is also on the editorial board of the Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education (ISSN: 2557 – 1299) and is the editor of the quarterly ACSSW newsletter. She has co-authored an article and book chapter focused on sexuality. She maintains a limited private practice where she provides pro bono psychotherapy services, as well as providing training and consultation for supervisors, community agencies, area hospitals, Cook County probation, and Cook County Judges office staff.

Board Member

Josef Vice (he/him) is a professor of English and Rhetoric and Faculty Advisor for the Pride Student Affinity Association at Purdue University Global. In addition to coordinating a long-term study of LGBTQIA2S+ students’ lived experience in the online classroom, he is the co-editor of two upcoming books (Queer Identities in Popular Culture and Shifting Gender Identities in Popular Culture) with MacFarland Books. He and his husband were one of the first state-approved foster parents in the state of Georgia and are parents to a son, Mikael.

Resources

We have curated resources for Queer Educators. Some are our own and some are those we have found.

Everywhere is Queer

Everywhere is Queer is a public resource (and ever-growing searchable map!) created for the LGBTQIA2S+ and ally community to find welcoming, queer-owned spaces to shop, connect, eat, learn, and grow all over the world… even in your own neighborhood.

Teacher License Reciprocity

This resource shows allows you to look up the requirements of the 50 United States and Washington DC with regard to transferring your teaching credential or license to another state. A great resource if you are looking to move.

Handling Tough Conversations

This resource outlines handling tough conversations in the workplace. Tips include how to get out of conversations and how to guide conversations.

Coming Out As A Queer Educator

Are you concerned about being a Queer Educator? This resource talks you through some options as to when and how to come out.

GLSEN

Every student has the right to a safe, supportive, and LGBTQ-inclusive K-12 education. We are a national network of educators, students, and local GLSEN Chapters working to make this right a reality.

Inclusive Classroom

This resource offers tips on creating an inclusive classroom that encourages students to show up in class authentically regardless of race, socio-economic status, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

What to Know about Gender Identity

This resource can be used with faculty or students to talk through the basics of Gender Identity.

Bullying: The LGBTQIA+ Response

This resource offers options for how to respond to bullying as a queer educator.

Podcast

Take a listen to the Teaching While Queer Podcast

Contact Us

We’d love to hear from you! Reach out!

Teaching While Queer Needs Your Support

In order to support queer educators we need your support. Please, if you are able, consider a donation.

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