Equity and Belonging in Action
Fall 2025 Professional Learning Day with Lex Horwitz

Keynote and Workshop

This professional development for South Portland School Department educators and staff will offer an immersive and thought provoking day loaded with opportunities to advance their knowledge and personal growth on topics of key relevance to their role as champions of belonging and equity. 

Opening Keynote with Lex Horwitz

The Keynote session will be a story from Lex Horwitz on that day. Lex is a queer, non-binary Jewish educator and athlete who brings powerful stories of courage, belonging, and advocacy. Through their personal journey, Lex will highlight practical ways we can create spaces where every student feels seen, valued, and supported.

This keynote connects directly to our district goals of Belonging and Equity. Staff will be invited to reflect on barriers to belonging in classrooms and schools and consider how daily interactions and school culture can foster inclusion for all.

“Strategies to Address Transphobia & Homophobia in Our Schools” Workshop

We all have the responsibility to address transphobia and homophobia, but how can we do this in an effective and impactful way? In this session, participants will gain the knowledge and the tangible tools and strategies needed to address transphobia and homophobia in the school setting, in addition to engaging in inclusion strategies for our classrooms and discussing opportunities for advocacy.

Session Goals include:

  1. Identify and understand systems of oppression – transphobia, cisnormativity, and cissexism (gender based) and homophobia and heteronormativity (sexuality based)

  2. Understand and identify unique microaggressions experienced by queer, non-binary and trans people

  3. Leave with tangible tools and best practices to utilize as an effective ally in action to queer, non-binary and trans people and/or for self-advocacy

  4. Sharing experiences and how to utilize advocacy tools to be proactive and/or reactive (scenarios practice)

Check out more information here.

Date: October 10, 2025
Time: 7:30 am-3:00 pm
Location: South Portland High School

Schedule:

  • 7:30-7:50 am: Registration and Coffee

  • 8-8:10 am: Gather in Auditorium, Land Acknowledgement

  • 8:10-9 am: Keynote with Lex Horwitz

  • 9:10-10 am: Session I in Breakout Rooms

  • 10:10-11 am: Session II in Breakout Rooms

  • 11:10 am-12:00 pm: Session III in Breakout Rooms

  • 12-12:45 pm: Lunch and Transition

  • 12:45-3 pm: Role Alike Meetings

This event is a private event for South Portland School District.

 
 

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