Is your school community confusing “nice” with “kind” and leaving LGBTQ+ students unsupported in the process?
As a new school year begins, many of us want to build more inclusive classrooms and communities, but surface-level politeness won’t get us there. This episode challenges parents, educators, and allies to embrace kindness as a courageous, everyday act that builds true safety and connection.
- Learn the key difference between being “nice” and practicing real kindness in school settings
- Get ready-to-use scripts for handling misgendering, exclusion, and passive comments with compassion and clarity
- Discover simple ways to raise children who lead with empathy and protect their peers with quiet courage
Press play to learn how kindness can become a bold tool for change—and how you can model and teach it this school year.
RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT
Resource: Welcoming Schools – Back-to-School Kindness Resources
Why it matters: This toolkit includes class posters, conversation starters, book lists, and sample lessons to help schools and families build inclusive environments from day one.
Other resources to explore:
- Teaching Tolerance (Learning for Justice) – Culturally responsive lesson plans and conversation starters
- Kindness.org – Research-backed kindness practices for schools and communities
- StoryCorps’ “Listen Closely” LGBTQ Archive – Stories that inspire empathy, connection, and action
Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!
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At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to compassion, authenticity, and transformative allyship, especially for those navigating the complexities of parenting LGBTQ+ kids. Through this podcast, speaking, my writing, and the spaces I create, I help...
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