SAN JOSE, CA – The Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) celebrated champions advocating for inclusivity in Santa Clara County schools at its LGBTQ+ History Month Showcase on October 1.
“Honoring the history of our LGBTQ+ community is so important,” said Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, County Superintendent of Schools. “The SCCOE’s commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and partnership is visible for schools, specifically for students. All students should feel safe and welcomed in their learning environments.”
Eight school districts were recognized for their LGBTQ+ Equitable Practices and presented a certificate: Campbell Union High School District, Fremont Union High School District, Metropolitan Education District, Moreland School District, Mountain View Whisman School District, Santa Clara Unified School District, Summit Public Schools, and the SCCOE’s Alternative Education. Commendations from Speaker of the California State Assembly Robert Rivas and Assemblymembers Marc Berman, Ash Kalra, Alex Lee, and Evan Low were presented to the districts. Speakers at the showcase included Sera Fernando, manager of Santa Clara County’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, and former Santa Clara County Board of Supervisor Ken Yeager.
“I am keenly aware that the history of the LGBTQ movement can be overlooked and often forgotten by others resulting in the next generation, our students that are in your schools, believing that there was no gay activism that took place and that nothing could be further from the truth,” said Yeager.
“I am so honored to be here year in and year out to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month with the Santa Clara County Office of Education,” said Fernando. “It shows the deep partnership and collaboration that we have.”
Video footage and photos from the showcase are available upon request.
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About the Santa Clara County Office of Education
Working collaboratively with school and community partners, the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) is a regional service agency committed to serving, inspiring, and promoting student and public school success. The SCCOE is a premier service organization driven by the core principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and partnership. For more information about the Santa Clara County Office of Education, please visit www.sccoe.org and follow us @SCCOE on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.