7/27/2019 Awesome Advisor

1/2

How to Be

An Awesome Advisor

Gay-Straight Alliances are Clubs run by and for students...

However, these clubswould not be possible without the advisors who open the doors oftheirclassroomsandoffersupporttostudentsinGSAs.Advisorsarebehind-the-scenesadvocatesallies,andmentors.Theyofferadviceandassistance,whilesupportingstudentsinmakingtheirowndecisionsandempoweringstudentsintheirleadership.

TostartaGSA,studentsneedafacultyadvisor(typicallyateacher,staffmember,counselor,librarian,ornurse)whoissupportiveorhasalreadyshownhimorherselftobeanallyaroundsexualorientation,andgenderidentitydiscriminationissuesatschool.TokeepaGSAgoing,advisorsoffercontinuityfromyeartoyear,asstudentleadershipoftenchanges.

Asanadult in aschool,theadvisorhastheabilityto communicatewith andeducateother

facultyandadministrators.Havingfacultyandadministratorsasadvocateshelpsstudentsfeelsafesupported,andempowered.Adultalliescanhelpotheradultslearntorespectyoungpeoplesrightstobetreatedfairly,toexpressthemselves,andtoformGSAclubs.

To get a GSA started, being an adult ally can include:

OfferingpositiveencouragementandadviceinstartingaGSAclub.

Providingasafespacetomeetandmaterialstouse.

AssistincreatingtheGSAConstitutionandMissionStatement.

Promotingtheclubtoteachers,staff,andadministrators.

Speakingupforstudentsrightstoexpressthemselvesandformclubs.

Puttinginextratime,forexampleworkingonweekendsorafterschool.

Usingneutrallabelslikepartnerandsignificantotherandstoppingtheuseofslurs orothername-calling.

Once the club gets started, advisors can help it be effective by:

Helpingyouthputtogethermeetingagendasthatreflecttheneedsoftheclubas determinedbythestudents.

Definingthedifferencesinleadershiprolesandsettingclearexpectationsforyouth andadultallies.

Steppingbackoncetheclubisorganizedandallowingyouthtorisetooccasionof runningGSA.

Makingsurethestudentshavealloftheresourcestheyneed.

For more information and resources for Gay-Straight Alliances, contact GSA Network:

Statewide Office: 1550BryantStreet#800,SanFrancisco,CA94103,ph:415.552.4229,f:415.552.4729

Central Valley Office: 928N.VanNessAve.Fresno,CA93728,ph:559.268.2780,f:559.268.2786

Southern California: 1145WilshireBlvd#100,LosAngeles,CA90017,ph:213.482.4021f:213.482.4027www.gsanetwork.org

7/27/2019 Awesome Advisor

2/2

(continued from other side)

Awesome Advisor

For more information and resources for Gay-Straight Alliances, contact GSA Network:

Statewide Office: 1550BryantStreet#800,SanFrancisco,CA94103,ph:415.552.4229,f:415.552.4729

Central Valley Office: 928N.VanNessAve.Fresno,CA93728,ph:559.268.2780,f:559.268.2786

Southern California: 1145WilshireBlvd#100,LosAngeles,CA90017,ph:213.482.4021f:213.482.4027www.gsanetwork.org

Once the club gets started, advisors can help it be effective by (continued):

Supportingyouthingainingleadershipskillstoruntheclubandfacilitatemeetings.

Evaluatingthestructureandgroupdynamicsoftheclub:Didyouthoradultsstart thegroup?Wholeadsthegroup?Havebothyouthandadultsalwaysparticipated?Do adultsoverpowerthegroup?Asanadult,besurethattheyouthshareresponsibilities. Beabletodiscussresponsibilitywiththeyouth,andallowthemtofinishtheirown tasksandresponsibilitieswithhelponlywhenasked.

RaisingconcernsaboutaparticularprojectoftheGSAbyposingquestionsinsteadof handingdownauthoritativedecisions.

Be an adult ally to a GSA club in the broader school environment by:Bringinguptheclubinstaffmeetingsandaskingforcolleaguestosupporttheclub.

Leavingclubflyersintheteacherslounge.

InvitingfacultyandadministrationtoGSAeventsandmeetings.

Locatingotheradultalliesforsupportinaddressingtheanti-LGBTclimateatschool.

Interveningwhenaco-workerengagesinanti-LGBTcommentsoractions.

Becomingfamiliarwithfederalandstatelaws,aswellasdistrictpoliciesthatprotect LGBTstudents,andspeakinguptoadministratorsifthoselawsarentbeingfollowed.

FormingaseparateGay-StraightTeachersAllianceorfacultysupportgroupifadults tendtooutnumberyouthordominatethestudentGSAmeetings.

Additional Resources:

GLSENs Advice from GSA Advisors

http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/news/record/466.html

Gay And Lesbian Allied Administrators

http://www.galaaonline.org/programs.html

GSAs Legal Rights

http://www.gsanetwork.org/resources/legal.html