Safe Zone

00:03 Hi my name is Rose and I use all pronouns.
00:07 Hi my name is Ava and I use she/they pronouns.
00:12 Hi my name is Lorena Madrid-Larranaga and I’m a high school student from Albuquerque
00:16 High School and I use she/her pronouns.
00:18 I’m a high school student from Albuquerque High School from PAUSE. And I use she/her pronouns.
00:23 This is an APS Safe Zone.
00:27 What is a Safe Zone?
00:29 About half the students we talked to have never heard of a Safe Zone. Of those who have
00:34 heard of Safe Zone about half couldn’t describe it.
00:37 What is a Safe Zone?
00:39 An APS safe zone is a place where all students, regardless of gender or sexuality, can go
00:45 for trained, non-judgmental, teachers or staff support and resources at their school whether
00:50 they are at an elementary, middle or high school, said a high school student.
00:55 A Safe Zone is a space for LGBTQ+ members to feel safe and welcome in their environment.
01:02 I definitely, definitely think that there’s a need to have Safe Zones at every level.
01:07 Because every level of schooling needs to accept students or needs to have a place where
01:11 students can feel accepted for who they are.
01:14 How do you feel when you’re in a Safe Zone?
01:17 Everyone is supposed to feel safe and comfortable, said a middle school student.
01:20 You feel free to talk and let out things that you would usually won't let out, maybe to
01:26 a group of people or to one on one . A place where you are surrounded by people
01:31 that you trust/care about.
01:33 For a room to be a Safe Zone, teachers or staff must attend a training. What does the
01:39 training involve?
01:40 Hi, my name is Angela Ruiz. I use she/her pronouns and I work for the Student Health
01:46 and LIfe Skills Department. Our department oversees Safe Zone training for all of APS
01:50staff. Any s taff member can be a Safe Zone representative, a bus driver, cafeteria worker,
01:56 educational assistant, administration, teachers and even district staff. The training includes
02:01 every day inclusion techniques to support our LGBTQ+ students and train staff how to
02:06 be an ally. Once someone completes the training and signs the contract, they receive their
02:11Safe  Zone lanyard and sign. And they’re now a trained Safe Zone representative.
02:15 What are some responsibilities of a Safe Zone representative?
02:20 Be non-judgmental
02:22 Provide resources
02:24 Provide support to any person
02:25 Be informative
02:28 Be there when a students seeks support
02:31 Listen and be respectful
02:33 Not share anything a student tells them unless in danger or dangerous
02:38 Why did you decide to become a Safe Zone representative?
02:41 Hi, I’m Savannah Esquibel. I’m the k through 5 gifted and enrichment teacher here at Governor
02:46 Bent Elementary School and my pronouns are she and her. So I wanted to be a Safe Zone
02:54 representative because I think it’s very important to be there for our students un,
03:00 no matter what. And uh, last year I , I wasn’t officially a Safe Zone representative but
03:07 I did consider myself a Safe Zone because I had students come to me whenever they needed
03:12 help with anything. They felt very comfortable with me which made me really happy because
03:17 they were they felt safe. And so when the opportunity was presented to become a Safe
03:22 Zone representative officially. I was like absolutely yes. Um, I think it’s important
03:28 for our kids to have a safe place to go to talk about anything and everything. And have
03:35 that person there for them um, to either to get them some help with what they need or
03:42 just to be there to lend a listening ear.
03:46 Why is it important to have Safe Zones in our schools?
03:49 It is important because no matter who you are, and how alone you feel, how much an outcast
03:55 you feel, there’s always someone there for you. Someone who is supportive.
03:59 The LGTBQ community needs a place where they can come out and just be open with themselves.
04:06 I like the Safe Zone because it lets people express themselves.
04:12 Why is it helpful for teachers and staff to have a Safe Zones in schools?
04:16 I think it’s important and helpful for people because um, especially if there’s students
04:23 who who don’t feel safe and they don’t feel like they have that um, to unquestionably
04:28 have that ,to clearly and unquestionably have that. That’s just a feeling of safety and
04:33 security or a reduction in anxiety. I think that’s really important for those kids.
04:38 As a Safe Zone educator, how can you guarantee students won’t get bullied for attending
04:42 a Safe Zone? How do you protect the students?
04:45 Uh, that’s really really easy. I explain uh, during the first week of school exactly
04:51 what it means uh, that my classroom is a Safe Zone. I explain why my classroom is a Safe
04:56 Zone. I tell the story of my brother and my nephew. And i expressly tell students that
05:03 it will not be tolerated uh, for them to use any demeaning terms for them to use any demeaning
05:10 motions anything at all. that every single person in my classroom is safe no matter what.
05:16 And that every single person is going to be accepted and treated with respect.
05:22 Where can I find a Safe Zone?
05:25 Look for the sign, lanyard or on the staff member’s google profile picture.
05:34 Anyone who wants to find out more information about Safe Zones can ask one of the representatives
05:39 at their school or can visit the APS website under Student Health and Life Skills.
05:48 Here are some additional resources.