Well, I had my meeting with my principals this morning.  It went well.  I discussed how I envisioned the process of transitioning in school.  Went throught he biological & chemical changes that would occur.  Talked about what directions negative responses might come from.  We covered a lot of ground.

So, I'm out!  Come hell or high water, the closet door seems locked shut behind me.

I meet with the superintendant on the 9th at 8 am.  I just hope it won't be as hot as it was today. (100F)  This Canadian blood of mine doesn't care for the heat!

Another day, another step.

Chaunte

I also left a note under "Just For Us" called Darn Closet Door...!  There was a side event that you might find ... interesting.  - C

Congratulations !!!!!



You go girl.

Alice

Congratulations.  I've always felt I had a way to get back in the closet every step along that I've gone.  Each time it would be more and more difficult to go back in and there would be some traces left (like my chest), but I think it was a safety mechanism on my part.

Melissa

Thank you, everyone!

My two principals had totally different sets of questions.  My High School Principal was focused on the actual process of coming out and transitioning in the district.  My Middles School Principal wanted to know about the actual physical process.  I have been in enough meetings with both of them where I know that this is normal for them.

Something we spend a significant amount of time on was how to deal with parents who have a strong and vocal negative view.  Since there is a significant Fundamentalist constituency, I discussed Deut 22:5 in depth, and I thank everyone for their comments posted elsewhere here at Susans on this bit of Scripture.

I also discussed that there was almost certain that the local media will be knocking on the district's door.  Along with that, there is also a very good probablility that the national media will pick up the story. 

Let's be honest.  There aren't that many school teachers that transition... yet.  And if its a slow news period, it will be picked up and sensationalized.  I can already hear Rush Limbaugh  lambasting me on the air!  lol!

While it may sound like we focused on the negatives to the district, we really didn't.  It was very positive and very supportive.

My union is behind me.  State Ed is behind me.  NEA is behind me.  My administrators are behind me.  Everyone here at Susans is behind me.  My friends are behind me.

It's a great support network!

Chaunte

Chaunte,

      That is great. It takes alot of courage for someone in your field to come out. But it sounds like it is going as smooth as it can right now. Just keep moving on!

                                                   Marco

Quote from: Chaunte on August 02, 2006, 07:53:50 AM
...
I also discussed that there was almost certain that the local media will be knocking on the district's door.  Along with that, there is also a very good probablility that the national media will pick up the story. 

Let's be honest.  There aren't that many school teachers that transition... yet.  And if its a slow news period, it will be picked up and sensationalized.  I can already hear Rush Limbaugh  lambasting me on the air!  lol!

While it may sound like we focused on the negatives to the district, we really didn't.  It was very positive and very supportive.

My union is behind me.  State Ed is behind me.  NEA is behind me.  My administrators are behind me.  Everyone here at Susans is behind me.  My friends are behind me.

It's a great support network!

Chaunte

Chaunte I'm sure that you are aware of my situation as it's very similar to yours.  My company was very concerned with a possible backlash from parents, and the media getting hold of the story.  They have prepared a press package for release should this occur.  I've been full time for a year and although there have been several complaints about me from parents to the school board, the board of trustees, and the company, we have been able to stay out of the limelight so to speak.  I've received calls telling me that I shouldn't be allowed around children, and that "they" are going to get me fired,  but so far the company, and the education system has backed me 100%.

Moral, religious beliefs had nothing to do with the way the officials dealt with the complaints on a professional level and how I did my job and how I carried out my duties, all of which have been first rate so far.

Parents do get antsy when it comes to their children, and given the creeps that are out there they are probably justified to have fears.  However they seemed to be satisfied once my situation was explained.

Steph

Chaunte,  I read your coming out posts with a mixture of joy and anticipation (for both of us, actually, you are one of my pathfinders!). 

Any troubles?  Let me know if I can help and I'll hop on the Thruway and be there in, oh, about 4-5 hours.

Keep it up hon', I think you're doing great!
helen

So the trick is to make sure there is an even bigger news story that will dominate the minds of everyone for weeks and weeks.  Hmmmm............   

Good luck on everything and glad to hear that it went well.

Quote from: Steph on August 02, 2006, 11:20:44 AM
Chaunte I'm sure that you are aware of my situation as it's very similar to yours.  My company was very concerned with a possible backlash from parents, and the media getting hold of the story.  They have prepared a press package for release should this occur.  I've been full time for a year and although there have been several complaints about me from parents to the school board, the board of trustees, and the company, we have been able to stay out of the limelight so to speak.  I've received calls telling me that I shouldn't be allowed around children, and that "they" are going to get me fired,  but so far the company, and the education system has backed me 100%.

Moral, religious beliefs had nothing to do with the way the officials dealt with the complaints on a professional level and how I did my job and how I carried out my duties, all of which have been first rate so far.

Parents do get antsy when it comes to their children, and given the creeps that are out there they are probably justified to have fears.  However they seemed to be satisfied once my situation was explained.

Steph

Steph,

In general, I am a very optimistic person.  However, I tend to be a paranoid pessimist about some things.  After you do quality control for a few years, it becomes part of your psychie!  ( I just know that defect is in there somewhere!!!)  lol!  Seriously, though, I feel more comfortable if I have checklists and back-up plans in place.  If there is a plan in place regarding negative reactions, I think everyone will feel a little calmer.  (Maybe it's the pilot in me.  I want that red-bordered checklist for engine failure; emergency landing; transition malfunctions...  That sort of thing!  )

My union reps, though, believe that this ... I! ... will be a curiosity for a few weeks, and then everyone will move on to the next thing.

Chaunte



Posted at: August 03, 2006, 08:57:56 AM

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Quote from: HelenW on August 02, 2006, 05:04:11 PM

Chaunte,  I read your coming out posts with a mixture of joy and anticipation (for both of us, actually, you are one of my pathfinders!). 

Any troubles?  Let me know if I can help and I'll hop on the Thruway and be there in, oh, about 4-5 hours.

Keep it up hon', I think you're doing great!
helen

Thank you, Helen! 

Those last 10 seconds before I opened my mouth were the most nerve-racking hours I have ever faced.  But once I started the discussion, the words just flowed.  (Thank you, Lord!) 

As Stephanie mentioned, I am not the first person in education to have ever transitioned.  And I look at what  Stephanie and others have done to create my own transition template.  Their experiences are worth more than gold.  I am not the first and nor will I be the last.  But I don't think there are many of us.

If you feel comfortable, let me know off-line what district you are in.  Maybe we can pool our efforts...

Chaunte
 


Posted at: August 03, 2006, 08:58:21 AM

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Quote from: LostInTime on August 02, 2006, 06:05:44 PM
So the trick is to make sure there is an even bigger news story that will dominate the minds of everyone for weeks and weeks.  Hmmmm............   

Good luck on everything and glad to hear that it went well.

Thank you, Lost.

You know, if only Mel Gibson had held off on his anti-Semetic ranting a little while, it would have been the perfect cover!!!  Now I have to wait for something like an asteroid impact, nuclear war, Jay Leno leaving the Tonight Show...!  You know, something major!   

Chaunte

Good luck. 

As a former substitute teacher, I can understand some of the weird pressures.  I hope as I progress through my education to my end goal (PhD.), these issues will be less for someone in our positions.  Even discipline and resultant teacher-parent interaction can be strained if this is not handled properly.  I did the teaching thing way before I came to my personal realizations, but I acknowledge they may affect my future teaching.

What hurts is that the people who say that "people like you" shouldn't be around children.  The kids are going to experience so many kinds of people in this world that the experience up front cannot do anything but good, in my opinion. 

Most times, these personal and professional issues are completely seperate.  Fortunately or un-, the transsexual experience forces the professionals to acknowledge the personal, and I'm glad that many companies and organizations are willing to do this.

Just an opinion from little ol' genderqueer me.

beatrix

Quote from: beatrix on August 03, 2006, 11:55:38 PM
Good luck. 

As a former substitute teacher, I can understand some of the weird pressures.  I hope as I progress through my education to my end goal (PhD.), these issues will be less for someone in our positions.  Even discipline and resultant teacher-parent interaction can be strained if this is not handled properly.  I did the teaching thing way before I came to my personal realizations, but I acknowledge they may affect my future teaching.

What hurts is that the people who say that "people like you" shouldn't be around children.  The kids are going to experience so many kinds of people in this world that the experience up front cannot do anything but good, in my opinion. 

Most times, these personal and professional issues are completely seperate.  Fortunately or un-, the transsexual experience forces the professionals to acknowledge the personal, and I'm glad that many companies and organizations are willing to do this.

Just an opinion from little ol' genderqueer me.

beatrix

It seems that someone has invoked that ancient curse: May you live in interesting times!

THis is going to be a tightrope walk for the first few years.  Besides all the normal stress that comes with transitioning, my students will have to be at the top of their game when they walk into the final exam.  If not, disgruntled parents could use that for building a dismissal case.

There is an old Klingon saying I have to remember: An escaping prisoner who looks for a guard will always find one.  I have to remember to focus on the positives and not worry about the negatives that could happen.

Good luck with the PhD quest.  What would you like to do once you have it?

Chaunte

Quote from: Chaunte on August 02, 2006, 07:53:50 AM
My union is behind me.  State Ed is behind me.  NEA is behind me.  My administrators are behind me.  Everyone here at Susans is behind me.  My friends are behind me.

Chaunte, if you are feeling a little flatulant, please go into another room first.  Thanks.

Melissa

Posted at: August 09, 2006, 10:24:38 PM[/size]

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Another day, another administrator.

My superintendant now knows.  It was a good conversation.  Her first concern is around how this will affect the studets and staff, but that is her job.  Someone had tipped her off about what I was there for because she had already started doing some background research in transexualism.

She needs to let the school board know what is going on, but will do so without names.

This meeting was harder than the one with my principals.  I thought these meetings would get easier...

Qa'pla!

Chaunte

Chaunte,
   I have been a school bus driver for two years now, this will be my third and I don't think there has been any backlash with me driving their children around. I drive Special Needs and I have to be close to some. I know all the parents, well the ones that care about their children anyway, and they treat me with the up most respect. I have even received a few Happy Mothers day cards from the children, which I know came from the parents themselves. All the schools I deliver to treat me the same. My supervisor said she would back me all the way, but it hasn't happened. I know the Superintendent of our school district and he knows that I'm transsexual as I have talked with him on Gender Identity in the school district. I do my job the best that I know how and I'm left alone. This year ought to be an exciting one for me as I'm the Sunshine Club President. I do brunches for the drivers, send cards and flowers to the sick and inferm and just be the happy person on the block.
  Chaunte, it will get better and you will be all right.
Love Sheila

Congratulations.  They'll get harder before they get easier.

Melissa