One Teacher in Ten in the New Millennium: LGBT Educators Speak Out About What's Gotten Better . . . and What Hasn't

by Kevin Jennings

Twenty completely new stories of negotiating the triumphs and challenges of being an LGBT educator in the twenty-first century
 
For more than twenty years, the One Teacher in Ten series has served as an invaluable source of strength and inspiration for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender educators. This all-new edition brings together stories from across America—and around the world—resulting in a rich tapestry of varied experiences. From a teacher who feels he must remain closeted in the comparative safety of New York City public schools to teachers who are out in places as far afield as South Africa and China, the teachers and school administrators in One Teacher in Ten in the New Millennium prove that LGBT educators are as diverse and complex as humanity itself. Voices largely absent from the first two editions—including transgender people, people of color, teachers working in rural districts, and educators from outside the United States—feature prominently in this new collection, providing a fuller and deeper understanding of the triumphs and challenges of being an LGBT teacher today.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, LGBT, Queer, Social Justice

192 pages, Paperback

First published August 25, 2015

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

One Teacher in Ten in the New Millenium, edited by Kevin Jennings

I was ultimately disappointed in this collection. In its earlier editions 2 decades ago, I suspect this format of book was revolutionary and incredibly impactful. In earlier decades, the existence of narratives themselves would have been enough. However, now in the 2010s the narratives are lacking the weight, the grit, and the critical reflection I was craving from these narratives. To be clear, the narratives themselves were often well-constructed and inviting. They were pleasant to read. However, many of them felt self-indulgent and overly self-congratulatory. Few of them really addressed areas where radical change is still needed.

I also felt that Jennings as editor needed to do a better job in their position. The order of the stories did not seem of any relevance and there was no commentary or foreword of each section to help tie the narratives together in meaningful ways. The narratives lacked diversity in multiple ways. 1) Jennings claim about having narratives from four countries is vastly overstated; technically it’s true, but all but three narratives are from the US, then there are three other countries represented with one narrative apiece, one of which is relegated to a preface. 2) Jennings focuses primarily on K-12 education; this is fine and perhaps indicative of his intended audience, but it was a let down for me as a college instructor. 3) The vast majority of the narratives here are told from schools of privilege or middle-class. I did not get the sense any of these narratives came from schools in poorly funded areas, schools in high-crime areas, or schools facing other struggles which would complicate the experiences of queer youth and teachers. In short, I do not get the sense that Jennings dug very deep to really see the struggles queer teachers still face today.

In summary, this was a passable read with some enjoyable narratives. However, it shows a picture of queer educator experiences which overwhelmingly skews positive and very rarely offers and critical reflection from which we can grow and challenge the education institution. It exists as inspiration. In 1994, inspiration may have been enough. Today, the queer community needs more and is ready to take on more challenging questions and experiences than what this book offers.

[Aurora Dimitre · Rating 4 out of 5]

~This book was won in a Goodreads Giveaway~

Let me say straight off that this book is important. Whether you're a teacher, LGBT or not, or a student wondering if maybe you should be a teacher, LGBT or not, or just some random dude off the street, LGBT or not, this is an important book. Because teaching is one thing that all of us have some sort of connection with, whether it's because we went to school or children or just someone we know, teachers in general have had some sort of affect on our life.

That being said, this was an extremely enjoyable and interesting read as well as an important one. It's nonfiction, but I finished it in about a day. It was a quick read, and all of the experiences were distinct enough that it didn't all blend together. While there were some common themes - wondering whether they should come out to their students was one I saw a lot - that didn't mean that those essays were exactly the same, because, surprise surprise, not all people on the LGBT+ spectrum have the same experiences, and also there are quite a few letters in that acronym.

Speaking of distinctness, there was a good amount of diversity in this book. It wasn't just gay white dudes - there was a good number of non-white contributors, and more than one transgender contributor, which was a happy surprise. This is the third edition of this book, and from reading the introduction, I've gathered that earlier editions weren't quite so good at diversity, but this one definitely was.

The writing in general - obviously there were a few duds. In any collection of anything, there are a few duds, but even though there were a few essays that I skimmed, for the most part, I enjoyed reading them. Some of them moved me to almost-tears, they were so well done, and a lot of the contributors didn't hold back anything, which was nice.

So, overall, this is a good one. It's a good collection of essays about an important topic that you don't really think about much - at least, that I didn't think about much - before reading. It's definitely one that needs to be picked up.

[Danny Brzozowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories are inspiring but the scope is limited. From an educator's standpoint, this edition of One Teacher in Ten heavily emphasizes the experience of teachers in progressive charter schools. There are some public schools included but they tend to be experimental or magnets where the school's own emphasis is on liberal arts, inclusion and self expression. I felt that this book did not speak to my own experience, or the experience of most teachers in mainstream public schools across the country. I was left with a "grass is always greener" impression and a feeling of cultural divide more reflective of a conservative political climate that resents funding public schools and mistrusts public educators, while favoring very small independent (expensive!) schools that serve only a few but do so very well. The educators and schools here are the icing on a very large, rather dry, cake. I am very happy for the educators sharing their stories in this collection but I'm also feeling left out of the conversation.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an LGBTQ educator, this book really resonated with me. I felt empowered and apprehensive as I moved from story to story.

I really want to share this book with one of my administrators. Here's hoping for positive change.

[Queen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was so inspiring! After reading this, I'm thinking of taking the same paths so many educators have taken already. I think living my authentic self at work is extremely important for my students. I need to do this as much for me as for the next generation. I only wish there was a Canadian version of this book as the views are very different and I hope that they are more positive.

[Dan Allbery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I continued to micromanage my image, always worrying about how I moved, how I sounded, what I said about my life. I continued to deflect questions about marriage, rationalizing to myself that technically, I wasn’t married, so I wasn’t really lying when I denied the most central relationship in my life.

Truth.

I had never heard of this book or the previous editions, but learned of it when browsing Radical Reads. Jane Elliot, notable teacher of the blue eye/brown eye experiment, recommends One Teacher in Ten for readers to learn about homophobia. As a gay teacher, I immediately got a copy on my Kindle and am so happy I did.

Immediately from the opening chapter, I kept thinking--yep, been there, happened to me too. There were so many parallels that clearly show and confirm how challenging it can be in K-12 spaces as a queer educator. There are highlights and allies and safe spaces scattered throughout the world, but there are also bigots, micro-aggressions, and blatant barriers that many face on a daily occurrence. We are definitely not there, but knowing that we are not alone helps. Knowing that our willingness to join others in the trenches matters. Knowing that our presence is needed, valued, and important. Recommended for all teachers and administrators, parents and community members--across the spectrum--and those who just want to learn more.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been sitting on my shelf for about three years. With all the turmoil in this country and an increased animosity towards the LGBTQ community, I thought it was time to read this book. I have mixed feelings about the stories. Some are hopeful, some are wonderful, some are troubling, and some are sad. And many don't reflect my life or where I teach. By this I mean, many of these teachers, educators, administrators work in the realm of charter schools or private schools, never stepping into the world of the very public school system where things are more rigid. Very few actually work in the real public school system or have ever stepped foot into that world. I couldn't relate to their stories.

I was happy, though, to see more stories from a more diverse group of people rather than the typical white LGBTQ member. We hear more voices which lead me to the one story I really connected with. I felt his story of being a person of color and gay and trying to navigate the world, running smack into both racism and homophobia.

I hope this series of books continues because I would very curious to see where the stories go in another ten years what with the political climate present in the United States right now.

[Sam Kiely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting insight into what being an LGBT+ educator is like and from personal experience I could identify with lots that was spoken about. I found the inclusion of Bi and Trans voices (as well as different ethnicities) to be particularly refreshing. An eye-opening and honest read for all teachers regardless of their sexual orientation or gender.

[Dylan Pedersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really highlights what it is like to be an lgbtq+ teacher in the world we love in. The struggle of how much to share about yourself with those pupils and colleagues you spend most of your time during the day with. Shows that people can be accepting in places you wouldn't think, and how far rights have come and still need to go for lgbtq+ educators to be their authentic selfs.

[Ned Lauber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can't say I got a lot out of this book. Repetitive narratives that don't really apply to modern teaching, and an excess of private and charter schools. Other reviews pointed out that the sequencing didn't seem very intentional.

[Kevin Warman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book when I needed to and am thankful for it. As a first year teacher, who is gay I drew a lot of encouragement from the stories. At times though the written selections seemed to blur.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource for both LGBTQ teachers and straight teachers.

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 2nd version and already it's pretty dated, but it's interesting history-wise.

[Judi · Rating 4 out of 5]

**This was originally a review for a Librarything Early Reviewers Giveaway**

Kevin Jennings, the editor of this series, came out to his school in 1988 - which was unheard of at that time- and became a leading voice for change in education and LGBTQ+ activism. But he didn’t know any other LGBT educators. There was no way for educators, gay and straight alike, to come together, exchange ideas, and to make schools better and safer places for their students. A few years later, the One Teacher in Ten series was born.

One Teacher in Ten is organized by Jennings, who is the founder of GLSEN - the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network. This organization empowers LGBTQ+ educators and helps them to create safe places for their LGBTQ+ students and colleagues. The series, again now in its third edition, compliments GLSEN’s mission by sharing stories of teachers’ decision to come out (or not) and how that decision has impacted their lives and careers.

The most current edition of One Teacher in Ten features stories from teachers, retired educators, and those that have risen in the ranks to administrators and headmasters. Almost all of the teachers are out, but there are still a few that use pseudonyms for fear of getting fired. Brett Bigham and Duran Renkema are teachers that have been fighting in the limelight and contributed stories of media exposure, censorship, smear campaigns, and legal battles. Bigham, who was named Oregon’s 2014 Teacher of the Year (and one of the first out teachers to receive the honor), had to have speeches edited and approved by administration. He couldn’t even verbally say he was gay when out in public. Renkema, who hails from Europe, recounts what happened when he brought a lawsuit to his Christian school. Other educators tell their stories of being better role models for their students; many of the educators didn’t feel that they could solicit advice to their students if they weren’t honest with who they really were. Other educators tell of the problems they still face on a day to day basis. This includes still feeling as it isn’t safe to be gay in their school to facing more feelings of “otherness” due to they being a gay teacher of color.

The stories were unique as the writers that wrote them. Each writer brought something different to the proverbial table. While there are tales of heartbreak and disappointment, there are also stories full of hope and promise for the LGBTQ+ educator community. In “Finding a Way and Making One: Coming Out Brown, Feminist, and Queer”, the contributor wanted to instill the ideals of feminism into her students but found out that she could not. But when she accepted an opening as a more progressive and experimental school, she felt like she was home. In “My Story of Self-Identity”, an educator from China talks about how there was a natural progression to him coming to terms with his sexuality. He explains his upbringing and culture, and at the end expresses that he’s happy (even though the first man he fell in love with rejected him). In all the different narratives, I felt that there was a single, resonating idea: if there’s no self-acceptance of yourself, you will not be truly happy in all aspects of life.

I would recommend this book for larger public library collections and any school environments where professional collections are present. The variety of stories and experiences will be not only helpful to education majors and experienced teachers, but those thinking about making the transition to teaching and would like to know about the current educator environment from primary sources. It’s a relatively quick read, but nonetheless a very important one for educators.

[JoyAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A valuable read for any educator that can help us be aware of obstacles and push us to consider now to mark our schools more inclusive for our colleagues. The section that focus on intersectionality (term coined by Crenshaw) was impactful.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Teacher in Ten in the New Millennium: LGBT Educators Speak Out About What's Gotten Better . . . and What Hasn't is the second update from the original written in 1994. What is really impressive is that because it is updated approximately every ten years we have the opportunity to see how much we have progressed and what still needs to change. It is uplifting to hear the stories of so many brave LGBT teachers and how they, each in their own way, made change in their schools and communities. I think we need stories like this to show that we can win and can educate others when we take chances and have support. My significant reservation about the book is that there are barely any stories from the public school system, especially from large, urban districts with large, diverse populations. I am involved in the effort to stop the privatization of public schools and would like to see how coming out in public schools versus private schools versus charter schools differ and how they are similar. Other than that, a worthy and inspiring read.

Thank you to Edelweiss for allowing me to review this book for an honest opinion.

[Wade]

A great assemblage of the recollections and experiences of educators from all across the spectrum of sexual diversity, including intersectional aspects of racial diversity, age, and a variety of types of educational institutions (public, private, rural, urban, etc.). Clustered into groups showing the best of what progress has been made in the decades since the original edition came out, to more nuanced stories of continuing conflict, to hard stories of where the struggle continues. As another reviewer noted, the most affecting and poignant stories are those of teacher/student interaction, and those give me hope when I read this.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gain understanding of current experience for LGBT teachers and administrators

With stories of frustration and celebration, Kevin Jennings again checks in with LGBT educators about their experiences. A recurring theme is how the ability for teachers to lead authentic, open lives can lead to better quality of life for the teachers and more effective support and guidance for LGBT students.

[M.G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"My hands shook as I spoke, but I could not stop the flow of truth." -142
This book is so important for people everywhere to read. If not educators, then everybody else, for we all have the experience of being a student. To hear these stories of triumph, of joy, of sadness, of fear, of disappointment, of betrayal, was an emotional rollercoaster. It shows both how far we have come and how far we have yet to go.

[Amber Griffith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book on a good reads giveaway. I really appreciate that we are beginning to approach the LGBT community more directly in all versions of media instead of pretending that it does not exist. I found this book helpful and enjoyed reading the stories. Thank you!

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very interesting. I have many friends and family members who are teachers some of them are part of the LGBT community. The essays in this collection are very telling, all sides of the issues are represented. I would certainly recommend it.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very pleased to receive this as a free book through the Goodreads "First Reads" giveaway program.

I really enjoyed reading the variety of perspectives and how inclusive it was.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a giveaway. Most stories represent experiences of educators on the east and west coast. It would be interesting to hear the experiences of teachers in more middle US.