Creating Schools Where Every Student Knows They Belong

 As educators, we spend a lot of time thinking about how to create classrooms where students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. But creating that kind of environment requires more than simply telling students that everyone is welcome. Students need to see and experience that belonging in the everyday life of our schools.

That idea was at the heart of an article I recently had the opportunity to co-author with fellow members of the AMLE Teacher Leaders Committee, “Five Ways to Support LGBTQIA+ Students This Pride Month and Beyond.” I was fortunate to write alongside Chad Uyehara and Megan Vosk, and our goal was to provide educators with practical ways to create more inclusive and affirming middle school communities.

Read full article here: “Five Ways to Support LGBTQIA+ Students This Pride Month and Beyond,”

Why This Conversation Matters

Pride Month provides an opportunity to celebrate LGBTQIA+ communities, but supporting LGBTQIA+ students shouldn't be limited to the month of June.

Middle school is a particularly important time for this conversation. Students are developing their identities, navigating relationships, and figuring out where they fit within their communities. As educators, we have an opportunity to make sure that every student knows they are seen, respected, and valued.

Unfortunately, many LGBTQIA+ students continue to experience bullying, discrimination, and feelings of being unsafe at school. The article highlights data showing that nearly half of LGBTQIA+ young people ages 13–17 reported experiencing bullying in the previous year.

Those numbers are a reminder that creating an inclusive school isn't simply about celebrating Pride. It's about creating a culture of belonging all year long.

Five Ways We Can Make a Difference

In the article, we explore five practical ways educators and schools can support LGBTQIA+ students:

1. Increase visibility.
Students need to see themselves reflected in their schools and classrooms. Celebrating Pride, recognizing LGBTQIA+ contributions, and creating visible signs of inclusion can send a powerful message: You belong here.

2. Support students' pronoun choices.
Using a student's chosen name and pronouns is a simple but meaningful way to demonstrate respect. We also acknowledge that mistakes happen. What matters is making a sincere effort, apologizing when we get it wrong, and continuing to learn.

3. Develop supportive and inclusive policies.
Creating an inclusive classroom can't depend solely on individual teachers. Schools need clear policies addressing bullying, harassment, and discrimination—and students need to know those policies exist.

4. Include LGBTQIA+ perspectives in the curriculum.
Representation shouldn't only appear during Pride Month. LGBTQIA+ people have made significant contributions throughout history, science, mathematics, literature, the arts, and countless other fields. Including those stories helps students see a more complete picture of our world.

5. Be an active ally.
Sometimes allyship can be as visible as a “You Belong Here” poster or an LGBTQIA+ affirming symbol in a classroom. But being an ally also means recognizing when language or behavior can cause harm and being willing to address it.

It's About More Than Pride Month

One of the things I appreciate most about this article is the word “beyond.”

It's easy to think about LGBTQIA+ inclusion as something we address during Pride Month. But if we're serious about belonging, inclusion needs to be part of our everyday practice.

It's in the books we choose.

It's in the examples we use.

It's in the language we use with students.

It's in how we respond when we hear an inappropriate comment.

It's in whether students see themselves represented in our classrooms.

And it's in whether students know that the adults around them will stand up for them when they need support.

Belonging Has to Be Intentional

As someone who cares deeply about creating inclusive learning environments, I believe belonging has to be intentional.

We can't assume that students know they belong simply because we haven't told them otherwise.

We have to show them.

That might mean changing a classroom resource, examining a school policy, learning how to use someone's pronouns, expanding the voices represented in our curriculum, or simply making it clear that discriminatory language will not be ignored.

None of these actions, individually, will solve everything. But together, they help create a culture where students can show up as themselves and focus on what they came to school to do: learn, grow, connect, and discover who they are.

Keep the Conversation Going

I'm grateful to be part of the AMLE Teacher Leaders Committee and to have had the opportunity to collaborate with Chad and Megan on this article. Writing alongside other educators always reminds me that we don't have to figure this work out alone.

There is always more to learn. There are always new perspectives to consider. And there are always small things we can do to make our classrooms and schools more welcoming.

I encourage you to read the full article, “Five Ways to Support LGBTQIA+ Students This Pride Month and Beyond,” and explore the resources we've included for educators. The article is designed to be practical, but more importantly, I hope it sparks reflection and conversation about what belonging looks like in your own school community.

Because ultimately, this work isn't just about Pride Month.

It's about making sure every student can walk into school, look around, and know: “I belong here.”