Pedagogical Resources for Inclusion of Sexual Minorities (PRISM)

PRISM is a summer professional development course for area K - 12 educators that builds skills, capacity, resources and networking for the advocacy and support of Baltimore LGBTQ+ youth. It was made possible by a grant from the LGBTQ Fund of the Baltimore Community Foundation.

What is PRISM?

Consisting of 30 total hours (24 in-person and 6 virtual), PRISM serves as a pilot initiative that leverages Towson University in its commitment to serving as an anchor institution for Greater Baltimore, through two specific departments: the Office of Inclusion & Institutional Equity (OIIE), which guides the entire university in the execution of a vision that advances inclusive excellence where every member of our community feels a deep and sincere sense of belonging; and the College of Education, which has a distinguished history in the preparation of classroom teachers, school leaders and educational specialists and has been Maryland’s largest provider of teachers for over 150 years. The development of PRISM was also supported by TU’s Center for STEM Excellence, known for their inspirational outreach programs to Maryland K-12 schools as well as their innovative teacher professional development programs, as well as the Towson University Foundation.

In its first year, PRISM brings together a cohort of area K-12 educators to achieve three outcomes:

  1. personal and professional self-reflection centered on social identities and their intersections
  2. a comprehensive exploration of sexual and gender minority populations, including local state and regional factors
  3. the development of inclusive curricular and pedagogical approaches that center the lives, experiences and needs of our local LGBTQ+ youth

The goal of PRISM is to identify educator allies who are interested in building their skills, tools and capacities to become advocates. Additionally, participants will then take what they learn and work to implement while challenging and transforming systems and structures on the journey to becoming full-fledged advocates for our queer youth.

When is PRISM?

PRISM consists of 30 hours of instruction:

  • 4 hours (synchronous, virtual) in June and July
  • 24 hours (synchronous, in-person) from Monday, July 24 through Thursday, July 27 (8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.) on the campus of Towson University
  • 2 hours (synchronous, virtual) in fall, 2023

What do selected participants receive?

  • A $400 stipend

  • On-campus parking and lunch from July 24 through July 27

  • $200 in funding for project implementation

  • 2 CPD credits [MSDE approved]

What is the application process?

  • Apply online. Review of applications begins on June 5. Space is limited.

How can I find out more information?

Direct any questions to .