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Leadership Institute

Prepare for senior leadership roles in independent schools with our Leadership Institute. Learn More & Register

Online PD Webinars

Each year, we host webinars on national topics that are most relevant to our leaders. Access previously recorded webinars in CAIS Connect. Register for upcoming webinars here.

New PD model

Anne-Marie speaks to moving forward with a new national PD model with the creation of one national conference. Watch the Video

2015 CAIS Accreditation Guidelines

Review the new CAIS Accreditation Guidelines that are being piloted this school year. We welcome your feedback!


Supporting LGBTQ+ Students

There should be more education for LGBTQ and i think there should be a whole new system in place. Up until 14, I didn't even know about gender identity and sexuality. There should be transparency about policies to deal with transgender students. They exist and we need to know more. These is an enormous spectrum and we need to understand how to support them. It's fluid and people move on the spectrum in their teens. School is home away from home so schools have to teach about yourself and how to understand others. - CAIS Student, 2015


CAIS Value: Inquiry and Understanding

We are committed to and promote life-long education, inquiry and independent thinking, the protection of human rights, and understanding and respect for differing perspectives and diversities among people.

This issue of transgender students is now a public conversation and many of our schools are already leading in the area of supporting students who are struggling with their identity. In our 2051 Project Student Focus Groups, we heard from our students that there is a need to address this area and provide more education (quote above).

We had a speaker at our Heads and Chairs Conference and a speaker, Ivan Coyote, at our National Leaders Conference.

Trinity College School recently had Nadia Bello speak to their faculty about the biology and sociology around gender diversity, and then engage in a discussion on what schools need to do through emotional support and programming/facilities to support transgender kids.

Nadia Bello's bio:

Nadia is a training and development professional who has extensive consulting and facilitation experience with public, private and non-profit organizations on issues of equity and diversity from a Human Resources and Organizational Development lens. Nadia is a former elected official for the Toronto District School board. She is a Certified Training and Design Professional (CTDP) and a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP). In addition to her consulting practice, Nadia is an Education and Communications Advisor at the Centre for Human Rights, York University, working with faculty, staff, students, administration and community to better understand and access human rights legislation, policy and education.

Contact Nadia Bello



Webinars Recordings

  • First Ever - CAIS National Student Panel on Supporting LGBTQ+ Students



Sample Policies, Guidelines & Resources



Website Resources



Case Studies



Transgender videos

A short documentary aired on 16x9 (Global Television).

Tracey Wilson and Harriet Cunningham are two 10-year-olds who were born as boys, but identify as girls. While their parents accept who they are - others don't - and "that" has ignited a debate - with both schools and the BC government.

Created by Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto for their "Are you an Ally?" Campaign, this video goes over how to be an ally to trans, intersex and two spirit people.


When we're born, a doctor instantly deems us to be one of two things: Male or female. But gender isn't just between our legs. It's also between our ears. So, what happens when how we look on the outside clashes with how we feel on the inside? Do we settle? Do we change? And at the end of the day should gender really be as big a deal as society wants us think it is? In this talk Decker Moss explores these issues and more, as he struggled through not only one but two major gender-related transitions in his life.

Yee Won Chong shares a story about the challenges of navigating the world while transgender, and provides suggestions on being a good ally.

Yee Won Chong converts practical skills and experiences to train hundreds of grassroots activists on effective communication and fundraising for social, economic and environmental justice.


The Harvard Book Store welcomes teacher, activist, and Harvard alum Alex Myers, the first openly transgender student at Harvard University, for a discussion of his novel Revolutionary.

Ashley Wylde is a queer and gender non-binary writer, activist, and travel enthusiast. Having written poetry since an early age, she began competing in poetry slams in January 2012, and attended the Women of The World Poetry Slam in March of that year in Denver, Colorado.



Media Coverage

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