Official Site of The State of New Jersey
New Jersey Advisory Commission on Advancing LGBTQIA+ Youth Equity and Inclusion in Schools
Our Mission
The commission's efforts support Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA+) youth and ensure New Jersey schools provide a safe, supportive, and equitable learning environment for all students by addressing the many challenges that sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth face in schools. The Commission shall support the New Jersey Department of Education’s efforts to advance LGBTQIA+ equity in schools through systems review, professional learning, data analysis, recommendations and support for Local Education Authorities (LEAs) and strategic partnerships across educational and community spaces.
Meetings
Commission members
- Karen Bingert
- Christopher F. Cannella
- Keywuan Caulk, M.Ed
- Andrea Caporale
- Allison Connolly, Chair
- Shannon Cuttle
- Robyn B. Gigl
- JoAnn Groeger
- Michael Hoffman
- Katherine Lin
- Zaneta Rago-Craft, Ed.D.
- Jason Sabino
- Justine Evyn Saliski
- Robt Martin Seda-Schreiber
- Richard Wilson
- Jamie Zug, Esq.
Our Director
Kate Okeson is serving as the Executive Director of the Commission. Kate was a high school teacher in New Jersey for 27 years and a long-time advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community. She is the co-founder of Make it Better for Youth, an organization that addresses the social and educational outcomes of LGBTQIA+ youth. The commission will benefit from her experience leading an organization focused on educator-to-educator initiatives, including the development of LGBTQIA+ Inclusive resources and approaches for the classroom and schools.