The School District of Lancaster is pleased to announce that Sean Hogan, Dwyer Freeman, and Carlos Cruz have been selected as District Facilitators for the Welcoming Schools program. In these roles, they will advance our commitment to fostering schools where every student feels respected, valued, and included, regardless of their family structure, gender identity, or personal background.
Welcoming Schools is an initiative of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and stands as the most comprehensive bias-based bullying prevention program in the nation. Developed to address LGBTQ+ and gender-inclusion needs in Pre K–12 settings, Welcoming Schools provides professional development, lesson plans, booklists, and implementation resources to educators and youth-serving professionals. Its training program uses an intersectional and anti-racist approach to promote actionable strategies that interrupt bias-based bullying, celebrate family diversity, and support transgender and non-binary students.
The program was born from community activism and collaboration effort.
In 2004, Greater Boston PFLAG, led by Pam Garramone, brought together educators, social workers, LGBTQ+ parents, school leaders, and social-emotional learning experts to address the challenges faced by elementary-aged children in LGBTQ+ families. At the same time, the Human Rights Campaign recognized the critical need for education and outreach in addition to political advocacy, creating the HRC Foundation. Under Ellen Kahn’s leadership, Welcoming Schools was brought into the HRC Foundation’s Children, Youth, and Families program in 2006, allowing its work to expand nationally.
Since its first pilot program in 2008, Welcoming Schools has made an enormous impact. Data from the pilot showed nearly 60% of educators reported an improved school climate after participating in the program, with students benefiting from inclusive conversations, lessons about gender stereotypes, and positive exposure to LGBTQ+ families. Since then, Welcoming Schools has expanded to include more than 150 trained facilitators working in 43 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, Mexico, and Taiwan, reaching an estimated 10.5 million students through its resources, training, and partnership programs.
As District Facilitators, Sean, Dwyer, and Carlos will build on this powerful legacy, bringing Welcoming Schools’ framework directly to SDoL’s educators. Their work will focus on providing staff with skills to address bias-based bullying proactively, create inclusive classrooms, and ensure our district’s curriculum and environment embrace the diversity of all families. These efforts are directly aligned with SDoL’s Strategic Plan, specifically our focus on Culture of Belonging. By embedding Welcoming Schools practices across our district, we are taking measurable steps to foster inclusive school cultures where every student can thrive.
Their role will also support our district’s priorities to build cultural proficiency among staff, strengthen student well-being, and increase authentic family engagement by recognizing and celebrating the diverse identities of the communities we serve. Through training, modeling, and partnership, Sean, Dwyer, and Carlos will help create spaces where students feel not only safe but also valued and empowered to be themselves.
Jassinya Alvarado, Director of Educational Access and Opportunity, shared:
“This is an exciting step for our district and a clear reflection of our strategic commitment to belonging and student well-being. By designating Sean, Dwyer, and Carlos as District Facilitators for Welcoming Schools, we are equipping our staff with the tools to build stronger, more compassionate, and more equitable classrooms. This work is crucial for helping every child feel seen and supported as they learn and grow.”
Carlos Cruz, Biology teacher at McCaskey HS and one of the new District Facilitators, added:
“I’m honored to step into this role. Welcoming Schools is about creating learning spaces where every student can be themselves without fear or shame. Our work will focus on giving staff the tools and strategies they need to build classrooms where all students, regardless of their family structure, gender identity, or background, feel included and respected. I truly believe that’s the foundation of a healthy school community.”
The addition of these three district facilitators demonstrates SDoL’s commitment to ensuring all students experience a sense of belonging and connection, in line with the strategic priority of supporting the whole child. Our mission is to ensure every learner has a path to success, a supportive network, and a future filled with opportunity. Sean, Dwyer, and Carlos will be essential partners in advancing that mission by strengthening our commitment to equity, access, and student-centered practices.
We are building a stronger and more inclusive School District of Lancaster, one where every child is safe, seen, and supported and know they are welcome.