Research Request: Experiences of high school counselors who have served as advocates for and with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students

My name is Maru Gonzalez and I am a doctoral candidate in the Social Justice Education Program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. I am interested in examining the experiences of high school counselors who have served as advocates for and with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students. As a participant, you will be asked to partake in a semi-structured, in-person interview lasting between 45 and 60 minutes, complete a brief demographic questionnaire and submit copies of guidance curriculum and other personal school counseling materials relevant to your practice as a school counselor advocate for and with LGBT students.

I will take steps to protect your privacy and confidentiality during your participation in this study. The interview will be audio recorded but the tapes will be kept in a secure location and destroyed upon the study’s completion. All identifying information shared during the interview and any collected materials will be redacted and used with permission. Ultimately, the purpose of this research is to explore ways in which school counselors can be more effective advocates for and with LGBT students across identity groups. As such, your perspective is essential to this study.

Thank you in advance for considering participation in this important study. If you have any questions, please contact me via email at mariag@educ.umass.edu or by phone at 770-361-1555. You may also contact my dissertation chair, Dr. Carey Dimmitt at cdimmitt@educ.umass.edu or(413) 695-2722 or Dr. Linda Griffin from the Institutional Review Board atlgriffin@educ.umass.edu or 545-6985.

Feel free to forward this message to other high school counselors who may be interested. Thank you in advance for considering this study.

Regards,

Maru Gonzalez, M.Ed.

Ed.D. Candidate

Social Justice Education Program

University of Massachusetts Amherst