PROGRESSION
My Journey
Implementing LGBTQ+ Education
Protecting LGBTQ+ Kansans Against Discrimination
The Fight To ImplementLGBTQ+ Curriculum Into Kansas Education
Learn about how I practiced my civic duty to change my community and state's legislation. From district reform to state-wide change, I have met with, lobbied, and influenced school board members and legislators to put my community first. My community and state involvement has impacted how my community and state treat the LGBTQ+ community in education and in the workplace.
DESIGN PROCESS
Learn about my steps in empathizing with my community. By meeting with prominent community members, I can effectively speak with elected officials.
EMPATHY
No idea is too big or too small, only ideas that are or are not acted on. Learn about how my ideas were created and my goals were achieved.
IDEAS AND GOALS
Through Innovation Academy, learn how I defined the problems I want to solve: integrating LGBTQ+ curriculum into Kansas public schools and passing a Kansas anti-discrimination bill.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Feel free to look at my drafts for legislative change and my district Board of Education curriculum change artifacts.
PRODUCTS
EMPATHY
Where Does Kansas Stand?
Even as of 2019, Kansas is still one of many other states that does not have statewide legislation that protects LGBTQ+ from bullying, nor protections from simple association. Continuing, Kansas still does not have laws prohibiting discrimination of LGBTQ+ students from participating in clubs, organizations, and teams, as well as lack protections from simple association.
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Recently, Governor Kelly signed an executive order protecting state workers from discrimination. However, there is no statewide bill in the legislature that creates protections for housing, employment, and public accommodations.
EMPATHY
Where Can Solutions Be Found?
Throughout the empathizing phase, research and timely news have brought me to a possible solution. From the time I started this project, Illinois was the most recent state to pass an LGBTQ+ education bill. This provided me the idea of education integration.
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After meeting with my Board of Education representative, and facing rejection, I learned that there are other hurdles I must overcome before a change at the state level will occur. This set back also opened my eyes to greater issues that impact all LGBTQ+ Kansas citizens. I, though, have not given up. Through my empathizing, I went through a different avenue that would put me in a better position.
EMpathy Artifacts
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READ THE BILL THAT INSPIRED THIS PROJECT
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The main sponsor and advocate, Heather Steans, has fought for her state's passing of an LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum bill. Her two-year fight encouraged me to pursue a similar form of legislation.
Though my project has shifted through the design process, the inspiration for this project may have not existed had she not fought so hard to make Illinois a more inclusive state with an inclusive education system.
Problem Definition
"HOW CAN I INTEGRATE LGBTQ+ CURRICULUM INTO MY DISTRICT AND KANSAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS WELL AS PASSING AN LGBTQ+ ANTI-DISCRIMINATION BILL?"
Through this project, my answer to this problem in short is "no." However, the problems I am trying to solve can be overcome through different avenues.
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Kansas is a state that does not give the legislative branch the power to mandate curriculum change. Yet, the legislature can, in fact, take the stance of an opinion. By passing a house and senate resolution, I can make Kansas a state that takes the stance in favor of LGBTQ+ education reform.
I am content because I know this is just the beginning.
Government Credits
How I Get Credit For This Project
*In order to get credit, I must show I have learned the following standards
Standard 1: CITIZEN RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Artifact(s): Photo with House Representatives; shows the origin of this project: action based on civic responsibilities.
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Standard 2: EVALUATING LEGISLATION
Artifact(s): Capitol Trip photo; shows the action taken to learn about the legislature in Kansas.
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Standard 3: EXECUTIVE ACTIONS & CONSEQUENCES​
Artifact(s): Presidential Simulation photo; shows the engagement in a module that teaches about the president's power in foreign policy.
Standard 4: ELECTIONS - “DIVERSITY SHAPES SOCIETY”
Artifact(s): Audio clip of Representative Highberger's focus on addressing my issues during reelection.
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Standard 5: THE COURTS - "CONTINUITY & CHANGE"
Artifact(s): Research of how cases get to the supreme court; shows how I understand the US court hierarchy.
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Standard 6: LOCAL GOVERNMENT - "DYNAMIC RELATIONSHIPS"
Artifact(s): Photo with my local school board representatives; shows my outreach to my local government.
IDEATION
Ideas come from both far and wide, unrealistic to tactical, unfathomable to practical. When reaching this stage of the design process, I understood what needs should be met, and I understood what problems need to be solved in order for the original problems to be solved as well.
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This stage, unlike the others, is only describable through our documentation of ideas. Beside is my ideation; when thinking of solutions, I acknowledged what the Kansas government is an isn't able to accomplish: the Board of education in Kansas at the state level gives the benefit of interpretation to school districts, while our legislature focuses more on employment, housing, and public relations in regards to the LGBTQ+ community.
Kansas Legislature Bill
Kansas Board of Education Mandate
Kansas Legislature Resolution
District Board of Education Policy Change
PROTOTYPES
My Progress At The State And Local Level
When meeting with my local representatives, including my neighboring Kansas House members, my senator, and my district and state Kansas Board of Education representatives, the following conclusion was made: I will write a resolution for my legislature that encourages united school districts in Kansas to incorporate LGBTQ+ curriculum into their standards, as well as I have begun the process of having my Board vote on incorporation LGBTQ+ curriculum into our history classes.
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I am still in the process of setting up times for my Board to vote on this issue, and I am still meeting with my local and state representatives to get my resolution voted on in the legislature.
PROTOTYPES
State Resolution Draft
Proposed School Board Policy Change