Main: 302-323-2800 • Transportation: (302) 323-2851

Welcome to our LGBTQIA+ Resources page, Colonials!

We are committed to supporting a culture at William Penn that celebrates the community and shows our PRIDE!  WE hope that you find these resources helpful in your time as a Colonial and beyond! WE also welcome YOUR feedback! If you have ideas of how to make this page even better, please let us know! 

Equity is the foundation of our district mission and key to harnessing the Power of WE.  The Colonial Strategic Plan, which was developed with the input of students, parents, community members and Colonial staff calls on us to Create Equitable Learning Environments for All Students (Access and Opportunity, Priority 2) and Elevate Student Voice and Agency (Innovation, Priority 2).  It is in this spirit that we have worked with students, staff and community members to create, publish and maintain this page.  

Colonial is committed to ensuring that all of our schools are open and affirming of our students and staff who are members of the LGBTQIA+ community.  We seek and welcome input from our LGBTQIA+ students, their families and staff about how best to realize this commitment.

If you have any questions that are not answered on this page and/or any suggestions for improvements, please feel free to contact us directly.

Sincerely,

Jon M. Cooper, EdD                                               Lisa Brewington, MA

Director                                                                    Principal

Division of Health & Wellness                              William Penn High School

Colonial School District                                         Colonial School District

Email: jon.cooper@colonial.k12.de.us                Email: lisa.brewington@colonial.k12.de.us

Phone: 302-323-2872                                              Phone: 302-323-2800

How can    help you?

 

Click the (+) toggles below to explore resources about each topic.

GSA Club at WP

Gay-Straight Alliance Club at WP

Gay-Straight Alliance or Gender-Sexuality Alliance, is a student-led and student-organized school club that aims to create a safe, welcoming, and accepting school environment for all youth, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. The WPHS GSA has evolved beyond its traditional role of serving as a safe space for LGBTQ+, to a Club that unites LGBTQ+ and allied youth to build community and organize around issues impacting them in their schools and communities. Moving forward into a vehicle for deep social change related to racial, gender, and educational justice and development of the next generation of LGBTQ+ leaders.

The WPHS GSA Club created its mission and goals to meet the needs of its members and the unique climate of our school. The Club has incorporated into its goals—3 different directions, all of which directly impact LGBTQ+ youth.

Social — Students meet and connect with other trans and queer students on campus.

Support — Students work to create safe spaces and talk about the various issues they face in school or their broader communities, such as intentional and unintentional discrimination.

Activism — Students take a leadership role to improve school climate through campaigns and events that raise awareness and c

hange policies or practices in their schools.

A growing body of research confirms that the presence of a GSA Club has a positive and lasting effect on student health, wellness, and academic performance. It can also protect students from harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and improve school climates for all students in the long-term.

Barbara Winkler, Club Advisor …………………………….. Room E117 or Email Barbara.Winkler@colonial.k12.de.us

Gender Wellness Resources

Gender Wellness Resources

Preferred Name Change Request Form (WPHS)- link

 

Nemours Gender Wellness Program ……………………………………………………………… 302-651-6590

Jewish Family Services Youth LGBTQ Support Group……………………………………….302-438-1545

Christiana Care LGBTQ Health Initiatives

Christina Care Gender Wellness Program …………………………………………………….. genderwellnessprogram@christianacare.org

“As a leader in LGBTQ healthcare equality, ChristianaCare understands the importance of serving the unique health care needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in our community. The following resources provide information and links to services that can help to ensure an exceptional experience for LGBTQ patients and their families.

We welcome inquiries and feedback related to LGBTQ programs, services or health initiatives.  Please feel free to contact Jacqueline Ortiz, Director of Health Equity and Cultural Competence at 302-733-3113 or send an email to: culture@christianacare.org”

 

Gender Therapists:

  • Brett Herb, LCSW …………………………………………………..…………… 302-623-7503
  • Kate Goemaat-Suarez ………………………………………………………..….… Kate.Goemaat-Suarez@christianacare.org
  • Elise Mora, LCSW (ADC Services) …………………………………………… 302-652-6776   or emora@adcservices.org
  • Lena Queen, LCSW, MEd,  Journey Wellness………………………………………. 302-691-8116
  • Julissa Coriano, MSW, MEd (Spanish speaking)…………………………………. 302-505-5577
  • Karla Fleshman, LCSW, Transitions, LLC …………………….………………. 610-724-3542 

 

 

 

Gender Neutral Bathroom Information

Gender Neutral Bathroom Information

William Penn High School supports our students, staff, and community members with respect to bathroom use on our campuses.

  • A gender-neutral single-use bathroom is located in the C1 hallway at the William Penn main campus outside the auditorium/culinary area and is available to all students, staff, and community members.

  • Students, staff, and community members may use any school restroom consistent with their gender identity.

  • Staff restrooms will continue to be available for staff use only.

WP Locker Room Procedures

WP Locker Room Procedures

William Penn High School supports our students with respect to locker room use on our campuses.

Students at William Penn High School have the following options in regard to locker room use:

  • Students may change in the locker room consistent with their gender identity.

  • Students may come to school dressed for physical activity and do not need to change for class. 

  • Any student who wishes to have a higher level of privacy will be provided with additional options, such as access to the locker room consistent with their gender identity before or after other students. 

  • If a student is a member of the Christiana Care School-based Health Center (Wellness Center), they can make arrangements with Wellness Center staff to use those facilities.

***Depending on the gym location to which students are assigned, there may be additional options- ie. changing in the C1 gender-neutral bathroom or access to the private bathrooms near the wrestling room. Please reach out to your gym teacher, counselor, or administrator with any questions in regard to locker room use.***

Advocacy/ Get Involved

Advocacy/ Get Involved

 

GSA Club (Gay-Straight Alliance), Mrs. Winkler, Club Advisor …………………………………….. barbara.winkler@colonial.k12.de.us

PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) …………………………………… 302-654-2995

United Way of Delaware……………………………………………………………………………………………. PRIDE Council

Hotlines

Hotlines

It Gets Better Project 

LGBT National Hotline ………………………………………………………………………………. 1-800-246-7743

LGBTQ Teens Online Talk Group ………………………………………………………………………*online chat*

The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender National Hotline………………………  1-888-843-4564

The Trevor Project (Crisis intervention and suicide prevention for ages 13-24) ……. *call/text “START” to 678-678 /online chat* 1-866-488-7386

Trans Teens Online Talk Group ………………………………………………………………………..*online chat*

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline……………………………………………………………. 1-800-273-8255

***All WP Students have an assigned school counselor and school psychologist with whom they can make an appointment at any time. However, feel free to reach out to the staff members below at any time.

  • Mrs. Winkler, GSA Club Advisory, Art ………………………………… E117
  • Ms. Borst, Social Studies …………………………………………………… N210
  • Ms. Covert, Restorative Practices ………………………………………. S2
  • Mrs. Horstmann, Social Studies ………………………………………… E106
  • Ms. Soliman, Therapeutic Counselor …………………………………. S2
  • Mr. Sopkanich, Music ………………………………………………………… W111
  • Mrs. Tilghman, Psychologist ………………………………………………. W1
Parent/Guardian Resources

Parent/Guardian Resources

 

Health & Wellness- Inside WP

Health & Wellness- Inside WP

***All WP Students have an assigned school counselor and school psychologist with whom they can make an appointment at any time. However, feel free to reach out to the staff members below at any time.

  • Mrs. Winkler, GSA Club Advisory, Art ………………………………… E117
  • Ms. Borst, Social Studies …………………………………………………… N210
  • Ms. Covert, Restorative Practices ………………………………………. S2
  • Mrs. Horstmann, Social Studies ………………………………………… E106
  • Ms. Soliman, Therapeutic Counselor …………………………………. S2
  • Mr. Sopkanich, Music ………………………………………………………… W111
  • Mrs. Tilghman, Psychologist ………………………………………………. W1

 

Health & Wellness- Outside WP

Health & Wellness- Outside WP

ChristianaCare Provider LGBTQ+ Referral Listing – Primary Care Providers

Therapist/ Social Worker Resources

Therapists

Library at WP

Library at WP

Did you know that the WP library offers over 4,000 fiction and graphic novels? In addition, students have access to countless eBooks and Audiobooks through the Sora app. For more information about our library including how to search for books and log in to Sora, check out: http://www.colonialschooldistrict.org/penninnovation/library/

For students looking for books that represent the LBGTQIA+ community, check out the spines. We have placed a rainbow sticker on the side of the book to help you identify books that might interest you! 

Page Last Updated 8/23/2022