T* is for Thriving

“T* is for Thriving is a delightfully thoughtful and affirming book filled with meaningful lessons that assist students with self-reflection and self-awareness. Multi-stepped and intersectional lessons utilize strong literature-based learning experiences that naturally lend themselves to in-depth writing and creative experiences. Students will experience a stronger sense of self, belonging, and connectedness knowing that their feelings are inherently valued and supported.”

C. Scott Miller, Co-Chair CTA LGBTQ+ Caucus, California Teacher Association, National Educators Association

“Through the gifts of practical wisdom, personal narratives, and innovative lesson plans, this beautiful, hopeful book simultaneously asserts the fundamental right of all children to a liberating education, and offers tangible strategies to get there.”

Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz, Professor of English Education, Teachers College, Columbia University

“Leading with joy, hope, and possibility, this collection of essays, reflections, and blueprints provide theoretical and practical foundations for how to work alongside trans* and gender creative youth in ways that affirm dignity and agency. A highly-recommended read for educators, researchers, and organizers who look to co-design speculative, thriving queer futures inside and outside of the classroom.”

Dr. José R. Lizárraga, Assistant Professor, University of Colorado Boulder

“Though often well-intentioned, many advocates for trans* and gender creative youth rely on victimization narratives that reinscribe transphobic misery. This book foregrounds the agency, joy, and thriving of trans* and gender creative youth as tangible outcomes of our educational practice. For those of us in K-12 schools and teacher education, I hope that T* is for Thriving becomes our mantra.”

Dr. Ed Brockenbrough, Associate Professor, University of Pennsylvania

“I am excited about this collection of first person narratives and educational resources that center the voices and lived experiences of trans* and gender creative students. This book gives the reader hope, nurtures understanding, and celebrates T*GC students. The volume includes lesson plans, situated in three theoretical frameworks, that provide readily applicable tools for educators to use in the classroom to spark self-love, joy and thriving among students. I highly recommend this compendium for all educators seeking to create inclusive schools for young people.”

Dr. Shireen Pavri, Assistant Vice Chancellor Educator & Leadership Programs, The California State University

“Queerly leaning scholars have paved ways for the arrival of Darling-Hammond’s and Evans-Santiago’s’ collection of life-affirming and timely lessons. These “brave” lessons do not fear “covering” nor do they tiptoe or shy “around” topics that may land a teacher in jail or even have their teaching credentials revoked. NO! The collection of these life-affirming lessons makes an unapologetically urgent call to administrators, staff, teachers, families, and students to band and stand together to resist the nefarious and nonsensical patchwork of politics and to insist that all T*GC students deserve and are entitled to the same human rights as those of their peers. Perhaps one day we won’t have to call queer scholarship or practitioner-research “brave,” then one day we can stop endnoting, footnoting, or hash tagging a T*GC student’s identity, and finally, thriving will manifest as it was always meant to be—for all students.”

Dr. sj Miller, Professor, Santa Fe Community College, Owner of DEIAB+ Consulting

“Nurtured from a profound love, this book is a rallying call for every one of us to create spaces for liberation grounded in radical care, safety, vulnerability, and hope. With a beautiful blend of theory, storytelling, and practice, this book is insightful, critical, and pragmatic in its steadfast invitation to create today the realities desperately needed to ensure we move past survival into thriving.”

Lucy Recio, Movement builder, facilitator, and professor

Acknowledgments

Preface

Foreword

Introduction: Hope and Possibility for the Work of Trans* and Gender Creative Thriving

Part One

TRANSformational Lotus: A Haiku

1. Exploring and Reclaiming Home in Our Bodies
K. Elliott

2. Brain Chemicals and Kindness
Dr. Bre Evans-Santiago

3. Who Are You?: A Black Queer Journey to Selfhood and Community
Danelle Adeniji and DeKeisha Smith

4. Annie’s Plaid Shirt
Wendy Garay and Bethany Gonzales

Interlude One

5. Be You!
Ana Cornejo

6. Exploring Identity and Selfhood
Shaylyn Marks

Interlude One A
What Are You Waiting For? A Short Story
El Chen

Part Two

7. Two-Spirit People and the Impact of Colonialism in California
Olivia Garrison

Interlude Two

8. Female Husbands
Jada Thompson, Jay Wang, and Carol Jacob

Interlude Three

9. Queering Counter-Narratives
Benjamin C. Kennedy and Alex Rosado-Torres

10. Yassifying Math With “The Hips on the Drag Queen”
El Chen with Cathery Yeh and B. E. Waid

11. 2SLGBTQIA+ Community Centers: A Beacon of Hope
B. E. Waid and Tyrone Martinez-Black

Conclusion

Afterword

Appendix A: Story Contributor Biographies

Appendix B: Teaching Routines, Scaffolds, and Tools

Appendix C: Editor Recommendations for Further Learning and Exploration

About the Authors

Index

Kia Darling-Hammond

Kia Darling-Hammond (she/they) is author of the Bridge to Thriving Framework© and co-author of The Civil Rights Road to Deeper Learning: Five Essentials for Equity. As CEO of the education and research firm Wise Chipmunk LLC, she leverages over 25 years of experience in education, research, organizational leadership, and youth development to offer thriving-focused research, advising, coaching, and public speaking, as well as designs for professional learning, curriculum development, and organizational growth.

Bre Evans-Santiago

Bre Evans-Santiago (she/her) is an author, Chair, and Associate Professor in the Teacher Education Department at California State University, Bakersfield. Her research focuses on culturally sustaining pedagogy and practices in TK–8 schools. Her award-winning book Mistakes We Have Made: Implications for Social Justice Educators (Myers Education Press, 2020) provides a vulnerable perspective on everyday scenarios and strategies for teachers of all ages to reflect upon while teaching with a social justice framework.