On Monday evening, April 7, 2025, the School District of Lancaster’s Menopause Employee Resource Group (M-ERG), also known as Emerge in the Office of Educational Access and Opportunity, welcomed staff and community members to a special screening of the PBS documentary The M Factor at Lincoln Middle School. More than just a film showing, the event was a bold and necessary step in our collective effort to dismantle the silence surrounding menopause.
Emerge, launched to foster support for those navigating the menopause transition, has steadily worked to build a culture where open dialogue, education, and community intersect. The screening of The M Factor underscored this mission, creating space for reflection, awareness, and connection among colleagues.
The evening featured an insightful conversation with M-ERG co-leaders Jacalyn Good-Mullin and Edith Gallagher, who helped spark the initiative within SDoL. “We’re trying to shred the silence on menopause,” said Good-Mullin. “To normalize discussions, educate people, and create a community where we can all live our best lives, even as we get a little older.”
Gallagher, who works in SDoL’s Office of Data Analytics and Strategy, played a key role in identifying the impact menopause may have within our organization. “We started to ask: what does ‘a lot of people’ actually mean?” she shared. Her analysis estimated that around 300 SDoL staff members may be experiencing perimenopause or postmenopausez, a compelling case for why such a group matters.
The documentary provided a powerful jumping-off point for conversations about the often-overlooked challenges women face as they age, both physically and socially. As Good-Mullin pointed out, society openly discusses puberty and pregnancy, yet menopause remains largely ignored. “And yet we are in an organization with a lot of women, many of whom are going through this. There are subtle, uncomfortable, difficult symptoms that impact not just individuals, but those around them every single day.”
The event also offered a compassionate reminder: menopause isn’t just a women’s issue, it’s a human issue. “Whether it’s your mother, your spouse, or a colleague, someone around you is probably going through this,” Gallagher added. “We should all be understanding and generous. Women deserve better.” Through the lens of The M Factor and the leadership of M-ERG, Monday night marked a meaningful step forward in our district’s commitment to inclusion, empathy, and wellness. It was a reminder that supporting one another, through every phase of life, is the foundation of a truly caring and effective school community.