[Editor’s Note: The topic of transgender students in public schools can at times bring community outcry. To protect the rights, privacy, and safety of the people interviewed for this story, NEA Today decided to alter or change their names. Only one source specifically asked to be identified.]

MJ is a 14-year-old teen from Virginia. He was up late one March evening watching YouTube videos, trying to learn if “this is a real thing.” The more he watched, the more he realized he needed to tell his mother something. He stepped into her room and woke her with these six words, “Mommy, I feel like a boy.”

Prior to this night, MJ went by another name and was referred to with female pronouns. But the stress of his birth-assigned sex weighed heavily on him. “It was building in my chest, I felt heavy, like I was carrying something 24/7.”

When he shared his gender identity with his mom, he was slightly worried about what she would think. “We never talked about that kind of stuff,” he says, but he knew she was open-minded.

While his mother acknowledged that she didn’t really know what feeling like a boy meant, she fully supported MJ. “He knows I would move mountains to make sure he gets his needs met,” she says.

So far, moving mountains has been unnecessary. MJ has a supportive system at school.

School Level Policy 

The teen’s high school is in an exurban community in  Virginia—a high-income, homogenous, and conservative town too big to be rural, too small to be suburban. 

The pale school building stretches across a few blocks of farmland. Within its walls, however, educators are boldly answering the call to include and uphold the rights of transgender students.

While the school has no official policy, administrators and educators have adopted informal practices designed to respect MJ’s gender identity.

“My school does what’s right for students,” says a 20-plus year educator who asked to remain anonymous, fearing community backlash. “We’re here to make all students feel safe and comfortable so they can learn, and...while we don’t have an official policy in place, we do have solutions specific to our school that don’t ruffle any feathers.” 

During a faculty meeting before the start of school, educators openly discussed topics specific to transgender students: the location of the gender-neutral bathrooms and changing areas; how to update the grade book program to students’ preferred names; and the best ways for staff to work with students, families, and other educators.

For MJ, having supportive educators meant he didn’t have to worry. “My counselor helped me the most because she sent out an email to my teachers saying this is what I wanted to be called and these are the pronouns,” MJ says. “[I felt] less anxious about going in[to] school, knowing that there were at least a couple of people who knew what was going on and had my back.”

Uncomfortable moments were few and far between, says the mild-mannered teen. Early in the school year, a student pressed, “You look like someone I used to know in middle school,” the student said. A substitute teacher unknowingly called his birth name during roll call, and while some educators may use his preferred name, they avoid pronouns all together. “Instead of saying, ‘Give this to him.’ They’ll almost always use my name,” he shares.

Overall, says MJ, his experience at school has been positive. And it should be that way, because, as he says, “I’m a normal kid, no different than anybody else,” adding a look that seems to say: “Why would anyone think I’m so different?”

Ruffled Feathers

Brian—a teacher in a small, conservative town in the Appalachian mountains—has seen what can happen when communities make it difficult for students who transition. He tells the story of Morgan, a former student who transitioned two years ago from male to female during her junior year of high school.

“It was awful,” recalls the 25-year veteran teacher, explaining how some students verbally harassed Morgan with homophobic slurs. A group of educators noticeably disapproved of her changing in the girls’ area during a road trip and would make a “fuss” when she would use the female bathrooms.

Morgan’s mother worked at the school during this time. She felt the pressure, too. “Whenever there were any issues with Morgan, teachers would bring her in and say, “You need to get ‘your son’ in line and make sure ‘he’ is doing the right thing,” Brian remembers.

Brian is the school’s Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) advisor. He describes how during club meetings, people would pound on the door and holler anti-gay slurs. “I’ve had to sit outside the door,” he laments.

By Morgan’s senior year, she was honoring more of her authentic self and dressed in female clothes, which “caused a big commotion in school,” says the teacher, “and that’s when Morgan’s mother quit. She couldn’t take the pressure of the school’s system and the backlash.”

Morgan finished her four years of high school. She didn’t attend the graduation ceremony because she wasn’t allowed to dress in the female colors and attire. Morgan disappeared after she left school, and Brian has lost contact with her.

It Only Takes One

Despite the unsupportive school culture, GSA offers the only safe space for transgender students. Members include straight, gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, questioning, and transgender students, and in the last five years, participation has fluctuated between six and 35 students.

“I have days when—gosh—it’s overwhelming: the lack of compassion and understanding, and people’s prejudices. It’s sad people are still being treated this way,” says Brian. “But I’m here to protect all my kids and treat them equally.”

While Morgan’s experience at school was difficult, she opened the door for other students to come forward. This year, a student is openly transitioning from male to female. She has been a passionate advocate for her rights, and even stuffed gender-inclusive information in the principal’s mailbox.

Brian believes that if the school had a clear gender-inclusive policy, educators would have a better idea about how to guide decisions to support all students. “But around these parts, getting a policy would be difficult,” he acknowledges.

While the idea of supporting the rights of transgender students may be challenging for some, the nation is dotted with a growing number of educators who are making changes to their school policy and opening their classroom doors to respect all students. “It’s really not that hard to make all students feel safe, comfortable, and accepted,” says the educator out of Virginia.

Welcome, Violet

Violet Bezelik is a well-poised 14-year-old freshman girl, who quickly dismisses the question of anonymity with a subtle hand gesture, and uses phrases like, “I had to live life for me…” and “I’m just me.” Her internal dialogue included positive affirmations: “…[P]eople are going to say what ever they want. You don’t have to listen to that, you are your own person, and you have people who love and care about you.” This mindset and support system from those around her give Violet the fearlessness and perspective to live authentically.

She is a model student, smart and friendly—a fashionista, who’s loved by her parents and well liked around her Virginia-area high school.

The teen came out in seventh grade. She remembers the day vividly. It was March 26, 2015. Her dad had returned home from a work trip, and Violet was determined to share her gender identity with her parents.

As the family sat around the television to watch a show, Violet recalls thinking, “I’ll tell them after this commercial break.” One commercial after another—even after the show ended—Violet remained silent, until her dad asked, “Hey, are you okay?”

“I’m transgender,” the teen remembers telling her parents. “I want to be a girl.”

The Journey

To ease into her transition, Violet was homeschooled her eighth-grade year. Her name was legally changed, and when she entered high school, Violet was, well, Violet.

The school experience has been “amazing,” says the teen, explaining that her teachers on Day One had the right name listed on rosters. Along the way, educators would check to see if Violet was doing well and free from any harassment.

This support “makes me feel a whole lot better about being a transgender teenager,” Violet says. “When I have people who care, keep me safe, and defend me…it definitely makes me feel like I can take on the world, once I finish high school and take on college.” The easy-going teen plans to study theatre or cosmetology.

Violet doesn’t necessarily see herself as a pioneer, but understands that by living as her authentic self, she adds richness to the school culture by showing other kids who may be questioning their identity that “it’s okay to question.” She’s living proof that kids can be safe.

Her message to those who struggle to understand the transgender community: “I’m just an ordinary girl, a regular person, not a science experiment. The only difference is how I got to my identity, she says, adding, “There’s no need to be hostile. I’m living my life the way it should have been from the start.”

Parent-Educator Relationship

Violet’s dad, Joe, attests to his daughter’s positive school experience. He shares how he and his wife first met with the school counselor to discuss their concerns over safety and bullying, and to talk about Violet’s wants and needs. The interaction with the counselor put them at ease, especially knowing that other transgender students attended the school. 

“This wasn’t their first time, and our concerns were addressed. We felt the school was prepared,” explains Joe, who believes educators are in a strong position to help save lives.

The family isn’t asking anyone to change their beliefs, he says, but emphasizes that “using the right name and pronouns can give so much validation to kids, who may not get it at home. It could save their lives.” 

“Most teachers get into this profession because they care, so arming them with information about simple things they can do to make a student’s life better—I think most would be open to it,” says the dad of two.

Statistics show that 30 percent of transgender teens and young adults have attempted suicide, and nearly 42 percent have engaged in some form of self-harm, according to a study published in the journal Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior.

For the Bezeliks, acceptance is key for the health of their daughter. “Violet’s really loving life now,” says Joe. “She’s so much happier, and I love seeing her flourish.”

How Educators Can Help

Here are some ways schools can support transgender students: Once a student identifies his, her, or their gender identity, consult with a counselor. Each situation is different; don’t assume. Use staff as a resource. Respect a student’s privacy and wishes, and only consult with parents or other adults in his, her, or their life with the student’s permission.  Understand your own beliefs; don’t let those ideas hinder student success. This is new; ask questions. Ask for patience from students. Be a student ally.

Policy or No Policy—Here’s What Happens

When school policies exist, educators say they’re more comfortable because it gives them something to lean on when making decisions in their classrooms. It sends a message to all students that they’ll be accepted, validated, and treated with respect and dignity. A policy tells parents their kids are going to be safe. 

When there’s no policy, educators sat students feel unwelcomed, unsafe, belittled, and ignored. Students are more likely to miss school, which leads them to do worse academically. Kids with home support do better in schools that lack support, but for students who are not supported at school or at home, they are lost trying to find the support they need. 

Administrators and educators nationwide work with their school community to ensure every student has a welcoming and safe learning environment. Some areas have passed district-wide policies while others created school-based policies. Others have turned a blind eye. Here’s what happens when schools have:

Gender-Inclusive Policies

Shows the entire school community that everyone is accepted.

Staff who wouldn’t otherwise respect transgender students must identify students by their preferred names and pronouns. 

Students and staff meet to decide how to work together in a positive direction.

Professional development is offered.

The school respects the student’s wishes even if the parents are unsupportive.

Students have the right to be identified by their preferred name and pronoun, without a legal name change. (A legal name change is required for some official documentation.)

Students’ request to keep their gender identity confidential is respected.

Students have the right to be on the athletic teams that correspond with their gender identity. 

Locker room use is decided on a case-by-case basis, but typically no one is required to use sex-segregated facilities that don’t correspond to their gender identity.

Students have the option of using the restroom that corresponds to their gender identity.  

Overnight trips are handled on a case-by-case basis with a focus on student preference.<

Informal Policies

Students are called by their preferred name and pronoun, and are permitted to use the restroom of their choosing.

Students are fully supported by their school administration.

Students wear clothes that correspond to their gender identity.

Schools are proactive and ask the LGBTQ community to share experiences, which leads to changes in school environment. 

Teachers meet monthly.

Every room on campus has a “safe space” sticker, which shows support, tolerance, and acceptance for LGBTQ students.

Teachers’ tone is inclusive.

No Policy

Administration worries more about community backlash than student needs.

Schools keep the community unaware.

Educators feel uncertain about what to do about name changes, pronouns, and access to sex-segregated facilities.

Gender-neutral bathrooms are often far away from many classrooms or inconveniently located. 

Transgender students stay silent on hostility, fearing backlash.

They don’t go to the bathroom all day for fear of getting in trouble for using a sex-segregated bathroom. 

Transgender students are required to use the locker room corresponding to their birth-assigned sex. 

Classrooms can often lack gender-inclusive language. 

Some teachers refuse to use preferred name and pronoun.

If identified, teachers would inform the student’s parents. 

External and hostile influences filter into the school.

School events have been canceled.

System-wide training on LGBTQ issues is absent, fearing community backlash.

Student can face terrible ridicule and harassment.