Post submitted by Kimmie Fink, Welcoming Schools Consultant

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, HRC Foundation’s Welcoming Schools is highlighting the outstanding educators within our ranks. On Teacher Appreciation Day, we are proud to celebrate one special standout: Wisconsin fifth grade teacher Kristen Scott. As an ally to the LGBTQ community, an advocate for human rights and a champion of our program and her students, Scott embodies everything we stand for at Welcoming Schools.

Scott works at Nuestro Mundo Community School, a dual-language immersion school in Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD). She has nurtured a classroom environment where children feel proud of their identities, creating events for students including a “Be Who You Are” party and her annual “Where I’m From” poetry slam. She has been instrumental in implementing the Welcoming Schools program at Nuestro Mundo -- one of two MMSD schools to earn the Welcoming Schools Seal of Excellence this year.

“[Kristen Scott] consistently takes an intersectional approach, making sure that we are providing access to Welcoming Schools topics to Spanish-speaking families,” said Jennifer Herdina, MMSD Welcoming Schools lead. “Many families have expressed that they are now more understanding of the issues and supportive of the conversations and lessons that Maestra Scott is engaging in with her class.”

Scott has been recognized often for her exceptional commitment and work with students. In 2015, Scott was named Bilingual Teacher of the Year by the Wisconsin Association for Bilingual Education. She made Madison Magazine’s M List 2016, a “who’s who” of mentors and teachers making a substantial impact on local culture. Most recently, Scott earned the title Educator of the Year for 2018 by GSAFE, a local organization dedicated to creating LGBTQ-inclusive schools for youth and a proud partner of Welcoming Schools.

We are proud to call Scott one of our own. Teachers like Scott make our vision of schools where all children and youth across the country can thrive a reality. Teacher Appreciation Week is a wonderful opportunity to honor the educators who work with us creating welcoming and inclusive schools because they know it is right and best for their students.

HRC Foundation's Welcoming Schools is the nation's premier professional development program providing training and resources to elementary school educators to:

• Welcome diverse families;
• Create LGBTQ and gender-inclusive schools;
• Prevent bias-based bullying;
• Support transgender and non-binary students.