Early Childhood Educator Series: How to Create and Facilitate a School Rainbow Club (CTLE-1)
What is a Rainbow Club? Why is it important to create gender-affirming spaces in elementary schools? Are Rainbow Clubs just for kids who identify as gender-expansive? What about allies? How do we get buy-in from other parents, school administrators, and students? What relevant multi-age activities can we engage in that are fun, and developmentally appropriate? What books should we read? How do we handle pushback?
Learn the answers to these questions and more from local NYC Elementary school educators who started a successful Rainbow Club for public school kids in grades 1-5.
Facilitators:
Yoauri Amparo’s passion for lifelong learning shines through in every aspect of her life. She is a School Counselor at Brooklyn Arbor Elementary School and has been an educator for eight years. Her mission is to empower children to find their confidence, voice, and unique gifts. She aims to ensure every child feels connected to a safe, affirming, welcoming school environment. Prior to dedicating her career to education, Yoauri supported others in an advocacy and fundraising capacity, working for nonprofit organizations that focused on women’s rights and child welfare. She co-facilitates the Brooklyn Arbor Rainbow Club, an after-school program that celebrates inclusivity, explores identity, and affirms and unites students of all genders. She received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Hunter College and is working on her second Master's in Mental Health Counseling. As a native New Yorker and mother of two young children, she understands firsthand the importance of providing a safe place for today’s youth to heal, grow, and thrive.
Donna Griebel has been in the field of Early Childhood education for 18 years, the founding Pre-K teacher at Brooklyn Arbor Elementary School for the last 11 years, and a recipient of the 2020 NYC Big Apple Award, a citywide recognition program celebrating NYC teachers who inspire their students, model equitable learning with high expectations, affirm students’ identities, and enrich their school communities. As the co-founder and co-facilitator of the Brooklyn Arbor Rainbow Club, she firmly believes in advocating for an education experience that allows every child to be and feel seen, known, and valued; and in doing so allow each child to learn how to see and value how their unique identities as an individual contribute to the richness of their community! Though Brooklyn-born, Donna currently resides in Queens with her husband, two sons (16 and 9), and a goldendoodle who resembles George Washington.
NYS Educators will receive 1 FREE CTLE credit for attending this session live. This session will not be recorded.
What is a Rainbow Club? Why is it important to create gender-affirming spaces in elementary schools? Are Rainbow Clubs just for kids who identify as gender-expansive? What about allies? How do we get buy-in from other parents, school administrators, and students? What relevant multi-age activities can we engage in that are fun, and developmentally appropriate? What books should we read? How do we handle pushback?
Learn the answers to these questions and more from local NYC Elementary school educators who started a successful Rainbow Club for public school kids in grades 1-5.
Facilitators:
Yoauri Amparo’s passion for lifelong learning shines through in every aspect of her life. She is a School Counselor at Brooklyn Arbor Elementary School and has been an educator for eight years. Her mission is to empower children to find their confidence, voice, and unique gifts. She aims to ensure every child feels connected to a safe, affirming, welcoming school environment. Prior to dedicating her career to education, Yoauri supported others in an advocacy and fundraising capacity, working for nonprofit organizations that focused on women’s rights and child welfare. She co-facilitates the Brooklyn Arbor Rainbow Club, an after-school program that celebrates inclusivity, explores identity, and affirms and unites students of all genders. She received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Hunter College and is working on her second Master's in Mental Health Counseling. As a native New Yorker and mother of two young children, she understands firsthand the importance of providing a safe place for today’s youth to heal, grow, and thrive.
Donna Griebel has been in the field of Early Childhood education for 18 years, the founding Pre-K teacher at Brooklyn Arbor Elementary School for the last 11 years, and a recipient of the 2020 NYC Big Apple Award, a citywide recognition program celebrating NYC teachers who inspire their students, model equitable learning with high expectations, affirm students’ identities, and enrich their school communities. As the co-founder and co-facilitator of the Brooklyn Arbor Rainbow Club, she firmly believes in advocating for an education experience that allows every child to be and feel seen, known, and valued; and in doing so allow each child to learn how to see and value how their unique identities as an individual contribute to the richness of their community! Though Brooklyn-born, Donna currently resides in Queens with her husband, two sons (16 and 9), and a goldendoodle who resembles George Washington.
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