Change will come if we work together.
A committee of experts cannot bring change. Change will come from a community of educators trying, learning, failing, and succeeding together.
On this page: About the BC SOGI Educator Network / How to Join / 4 Ways to Act Now / Current Membership
“The network enabled us to go further in our SOGI work.”
Renge Bailie, District Principal, Student Support Services, Langley School District
About the Network
The BC SOGI Educator Network brings together BC educators interested in SOGI-inclusive education.
It enables these educators to meet, share resources, co-design programs, and collectively overcome obstacles within and across school districts, independent schools and First Nations schools. District-level members in public school districts gain access to an expansive collection of emerging SOGI tools to test and evolve with their schools. Key tools are then shared publicly and with all members as the SOGI Educator Toolkit.
The BC SOGI Educator Network was formally launched as a pilot project at the beginning of the 2016/2017 year by ARC Foundation and nine BC school districts: Vancouver, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Burnaby, Langley, Delta, Sea to Sky, Nanaimo-Ladysmith, and Kamloops/Thompson. The network has since grown to all 60 public school districts in BC, as well as a number of independent and First Nations schools.
The network is open to all districts, Independent Schools and First Nations schools.
“This is about creating a community to support our students.”
Nichelle Penney, Teacher and SOGI District Lead 2016/17, Kamloops/Thompson School District
How to Join
Educators join the network within one of the following roles:
SOGI DISTRICT LEAD (for school districts)
This position is appointed centrally by district leadership and is usually filled by one or two educators. The District Leads raise awareness of SOGI within their districts by developing district-wide initiatives and recruiting, training, and supporting School Leads. District Leads typically have dedicated hours for this role, attend regular network meetings, and are usually a teacher, administrator, counsellor, district principal, or other district role.
SOGI District Lead Role Description
SOGI SCHOOL LEAD
Any BC educator in a school district, independent school or First Nations school can self-identify as a School Lead. The School Leads raise awareness of SOGI within their schools by sharing, implementing, and developing SOGI-inclusive practices and initiatives. School Leads can be teachers, administrators, teacher-librarians, counsellors, or any other staff role in a school.
SOGI School Lead Role Description
If you are interested in joining the BC SOGI Educator Network, please see our list of participating districts at the bottom of this page. If you are in a public school please contact your SOGI District Lead for more information on how to get involved. Reach out if you do not know who your SOGI District Lead is. If you are in an Independent or First Nation school that is not listed, please express your interest in joining using the form below.
“Having a SOGI School Lead in every school brought grassroots change.”
Matt Carruthers, SOGI District Lead 2015/16 and Elementary Principal, Delta School District
4 Ways to Act Now
Even before joining the network, you can be part of a network of change.
1. Connect with the Network: Contact us to find out which BC Educator Network is the best place for you.
2. Share resources: Email us to share your resources with the network and/or on this website.
3. Inspire others: You don’t have to be an expert to inspire others. You just have to make an effort. Decide on the next thing you will do to create change in your classroom or school.
4. Use network resources: All the resources on this site have been developed and/or tested by the BC SOGI Educator Network. Use them, and let us know what you think.
Current Membership
From Pilot to Province-Wide! All 60 Districts are participating in the Network
In just over two school years, the BC SOGI Educator Network went from 9 to all 60 districts! Since then the numbers of First Nation and independent schools has also been growing steadily. Below is a current list of districts, independent, and First Nation schools that are participating in the BC SOGI Educator Network.
Metro
Burnaby, Conseil Scolaire Francophone, Coquitlam, Delta, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows, Richmond, Sea to Sky, Vancouver, and West Vancouver
Fraser Valley
Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Fraser Cascade, Langley, Surrey, and Mission
Vancouver Island / Sunshine Coast
Alberni, Campbell River, Comox Valley, Cowichan Valley, Greater Victoria, Gulf Islands, Nanaimo-Ladysmith, Powell River, Qualicum, Saanich, Sooke, Sunshine Coast, Vancouver Island North, and Vancouver Island West
Kootenay
Arrow Lakes, Boundary, Kootenay-Columbia, Kootenay-Lake, Rocky Mountain, and Southeast Kootenay
Northern BC
Bulkley Valley, Central Coast, Coast Mountain, Fort Nelson, Haida Gwaii, Nechako Lakes, Nisga’a, Peace River North, Peace River South, Prince Rupert, and Stikine
Central BC
Cariboo-Chilcotin, Gold Trail, Kamloops-Thompson, Prince George, and Quesnel
Okanagan
Central Okanagan, Nicola-Similkameen, North Okanagan-Shuswap, Okanagan-Similkameen, Okanagan Skaha, Revelstoke, and Vernon
First Nation Schools
Bella Bella Community School, Kyah Widget Schools, Outma Sqilx’w Cultural School, Seabird Island Community School, W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Secondary School, Xet̓ólacw Community School,.
Independent Schools
Aberdeen Hall, Aspengrove, Brentwood College, Brockton, Collingwood, Crofton House, Fraser Academy, Glenlyon Norfolk, Island Pacific, Kenneth Gordon Maplewood, King David, Meadowridge, Mulgrave, Pearson College, Queen Margaret, SelfDesign Learning Community, Shawnigan Lake, Southpointe, Southridge, St. Georges, St. John's, St. Margaret’s, St Michaels University, Stratford Hall, Urban Academy, Talmud Torah, West Point Grey Academy, and York House.