Al Vernacchio is the N-12 Sexuality Education Coordinator and also a member of the Upper School English department at Friends’ Central School. In his work as Sexuality Education Coordinator, Al teaches classes, organizes sexuality-themed programs and student assemblies, provides parent education on human sexuality topics, and is one of the faculty advisors for the Gender and Sexual Orientation Alliance (GSoA). Read more.

Al will be talking about progressive sexuality education as the key to sexual freedom and justice.

In a cultural moment where “Don’t Say Gay’ and anti-trans bills are being advanced in state legislatures, and fundamental sexual rights – like access to safe abortion procedures – are being threatened, age-appropriate, value-informed, medically-accurate, progressive sexuality education can be a powerful tool for exploring issues of personal identity, body autonomy, pleasure equity, and sexual justice. The classroom has always been a place to spark wonder, imagination, transformation, and growth in young people. Good education leads learners out of oppression and into possibility. It helps to create citizens who understand individual and communal rights and are committed to individual and community responsibility.. When we are courageous and creative in our classrooms, when we lead from hope rather than fear, sexuality education can have a profound and positive impact on students’ understanding of themselves, their relationships, and their world.