Lead with Pride, Connect with Purpose
Dear School Leaders,
We are Peter Godard (he/him) from Great Bear Coaching and Max Weinberg (he/him) from Belonging Education. As queer leaders in education, we longed for a dedicated space where queer/LGBTQIA+ school leaders could come together, connect, and thrive. So, we decided to create one, and you’re invited!
We seek to co-create a virtual space that’s a supportive, celebratory, and empowering environment for LGBTQIA+ school leaders nationwide. Participants will set the agenda in this affinity space as they inspire themselves to grow, connect, and transform their leadership.
Purpose
Our group will explore how our identities as leaders can be harnessed as sources of strength, insight, and transformative leadership. Together, we will:
- Build a community and create a network of leaders with a common identity.
- Cultivate joy and belonging for ourselves, enabling us to foster the same for others in our school communities.
- Co-reflect on queerness as a leadership superpower, even in environments where our identities can feel isolated or threatened.
- Co-strategize on common challenges and concerns, sharing wisdom and solutions rooted in lived experience.
Format
We’ll host affinity group gatherings twice monthly in April and May. The format will evolve based on the aspirations of the community and the needs of those present.
In each session, we’ll trust that the meaningful conversation for those present is the right one. Some potential session topics include:
- Segments dedicated to shared learning and leadership development.
- Breakout groups for affinity space conversations within the community.
- Interactive discussions, storytelling, and collaborative activities deepen connections and inspire reflection.
- Somatic/mindfulness practices to ground our nervous systems in a challenging time
Schedule/Time Commitment
We’ve crafted our sessions to accommodate various schedules, with a blend of morning and afternoon meetings. Given the realities of school leadership, participation will be on a drop-in basis, and we encourage you to attend regularly, if possible, to foster relationships and a sense of community.
Morning Session, first Wednesday of every month: 9 am-10am CST
April 2, 2025
May 7, 2025
Afternoon Session, second Wednesday of every month: 4 pm-5pm, CST
April 16, 2025
May 21, 2025
Support and Payment Options
We are excited to learn with and from you and ask that you contribute what you deem the program worth to your personal and professional growth. In our experience, similar programs cost approximately $250 per session.
If your school receives professional development funds for leadership development, please contact us so we can write you a proposal showing how this project supports your growth needs and goals.
Reach out if you are are interested in supporting programming and support like this either in this form or for your institution specifically.
RSVP: Please RSVP via Eventbrite to secure your spot and receive further details. For additional information or details, please email us at [email protected] or [email protected].
Thank you for being part of this journey and contributing in a way that feels right for you!
In solidarity and pride,
Peter & Max
