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Professional Training

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I register? 

Participants should register using the registration link for the desired training session. The registration fee can be paid via credit card at the time of registration or by invoice/purchase order after the training has completed. Please note that many of our courses fill up well in advance and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Your seat will not be reserved until registration by credit card or invoice/purchase order is completed. You will receive an email confirming your registration. If no registration link is provided for a training, please contact [email protected] for more information

Can I bring this training to my workplace?

Yes. Schools or organizations can host private, contracted trainings for their staff either at your location or ours. Please fill out this form and a member of our team will be in contact.

How do I find out about future professional training opportunities?

Our trainings will always be listed on this website. You can also sign up to be added onto the Professional Training mailing list .

What if I have other questions?

All questions about our professional training offerings can be directed to [email protected].

 

Training Opportunities

Sexuality Education Cornerstone Seminars (SECS) 

Full Day Trainings *All full day trainings are Virtual 

Half Day Trainings *All half day trainings are Virtual 

Get Real Trainings

Sexuality Education Cornerstone Seminar (SECS)

In-Person Seminars:

SECS is PPLM's most popular training opportunity for foundational information about sexuality education. SECS is designed for educators, youth-serving professionals, and individuals interested in sexuality education who are seeking a basic foundation of knowledge in sexuality and sexual health information that they can share with their populations. Participants receive up-to-date information about protection methods, anatomy, puberty, sexual and gender identity, communication, and sexually transmitted infections; they also develop the knowledge, skills, and practice needed to deliver information and answer questions related to sexuality. Each session of this lively, interactive, 3-day seminar combines discussion and hands-on practical experience in specific subject areas.

This seminar will take place in-person in Boston, MA.

  • Fall: November 7-9, 2023 (9:30 am-4:00 pm) 
    • Fall Sexuality Education Cornerstone Seminar (SECS) Register Here
  • Winter: April 2-4, 2024 (9:30 am - 4:00 pm) 
    • Winter Sexuality Education Cornerstone Seminar (SECS) Register Here

Virtual Seminars:

Now adapted for online learning, our usual three-day training has been divided into six discreet half day learning opportunities. We are committed to retaining the interactive and participatory nature of this learning experience as we move to a virtual platform. Each session will help participants develop the knowledge, skills, and practice needed to deliver information and answer questions related to the session topic, combining discussion and hands-on practical experience. 

Participants can choose to register for an individual session, mix and match sessions, or register for the entire series for the most comprehensive training experience. Individuals who attend all six sessions will be eligible for a Certificate of Completion for the series along with Continuing Education Units (CEUs). 

These seminars will be hosted through Zoom with a link provided to all attendees directly via email.

  • Fall: August 15 - September 26, 2023 (9:30 am-12:30 pm) [Tuesdays, skips the week of September 5th] 
    • Virtual Fall Sexuality Education Cornerstone Seminar (SECS) Register Here
  • Winter: January 30 - March 12, 2024 (9:30 am-12:30 pm) [Tuesdays, skips the week of September 5th] 

Full Day Trainings

"They want me to teach WHAT?!" Stepping Into the Sex Educator Role 

October 12, 2023 (9:30 am-4:00 pm) 

When the role of sexuality educator falls to the PE, science, and sometimes even the math teacher, it might feel scary or overwhelming - but it doesn't need to! This full-day training will provide educators who are newly tapped to teach sex education the foundational skills necessary for teaching this subject.  From learning about group rights, to setting the classroom tone, managing potential challenges and establishing appropriate boundaries, and exploring personal values as they relate to teaching about sexuality - this training will cover it all. Participants will leave this training with an increase in their knowledge, skills, and comfort to successfully teach sexuality education. 

This training will take place on Zoom. 

"They want me to teach WHAT?!" Stepping Into the Sex Educator Role Register Here 

 

Tools for Creating LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Spaces 

December 7, 2023 (9:30 am-4:00 pm) 

This full day training is for professionals committed to creating inclusive spaces for people of all sexual identities and genders. This training will cover vocabulary, using gender neutral language and correct pronouns, answering tough questions, and will provide opportunities for skill building utilizing real-life examples plus more. Any and all are welcome to attend, including educators, nurses, school nurses, human resource professionals, medical and health providers, disability service providers, youth-serving professionals, law enforcement officers, etc. 

This training will take place on Zoom. 

Periods and Wet Dreams: Teaching Puberty in Elementary School 

March 28, 2024 (9:30 am-4:00 pm)  

Puberty: a time of great (and sometimes daunting) change for both young people and the adults in their lives. This interactive, full-day training will provide educators, school nurses, youth-serving professionals, and other caring adults with skills and strategies for teaching pubescent youth about their changing bodies, emotional growth, and navigating the path to adulthood in a way that is inclusive of students of all genders and sexual identities. Through a social emotional learning lens, participants will have an opportunity to engage in lessons and activities that will build their own skills to teach anatomy, menstruation, hygiene, cultivating empathy, and more. 

This training will take place on Zoom. 

 

Examining Sexually Explicit Media: Tools for Conversations with Youth

April 9, 2024 (9:30 am-4:00 pm) 

Sexually Explicit Media (SEM) is one way that youth are learning about sexuality. Using the lens of media literacy education, this interactive, one-day training will provide educators, youth workers, and professionals with an opportunity to explore how pornography can play a role in young people's sexual development and sexuality, their awareness of gender and gender stereotypes, consent, sexual behavior, bodies and body image, healthy and unhealthy relationships, and sexual identity. Participants will learn strategies to teach critical thinking skills about media literacy, how to discuss SEM with young people, and leave with activities to utilize in the classroom. 

This training will take place on Zoom. 

Examining Sexually Explicit Media: Tools for Conversations with Youth Register Here 

 

Sexuality Education Tools for the IDD Community  

Spring 2024 TBD 

All people deserve access to medically accurate, developmentally appropriate information related to their sexuality and sexual health. And yet often, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are not included in sex education. Training participants will have an opportunity to identify and examine values, practice intentional language, work on concrete skills for adapting lesson plans, share challenges and successes, and learn best practices for implementing Universal Design for Learning (UDL) through lecture, peer-to-peer conversation, modeling and skill-building activities. This full-day, interactive training was informed by a team of multi-disciplinary experts, and a focus-group of youth self-advocates. We hope you can join us for this brand-new training intended for educators, service providers, and anyone who is working directly with individuals with IDD. 

Half Day Trainings

"Am I normal...? Is it okay if...?" Answering Student Questions About Sexual Health 

September 14, 2023 (9:30 am-12:30 pm) 

Young people have endless questions about their bodies, their relationships, their sexuality, and so much more. In this interactive, half-day workshop educators (and really anyone who finds themselves in conversations with youth!) will identify types of sexuality questions, examine the role personal values play in answering these questions, and develop facilitation skills needed to answer sexuality questions in their teaching. During the workshop, participants will practice responding to real questions from real kids, receive feedback, and leave with increased confidence in their ability to respond to challenging questions. 

This training will take place on Zoom. 

"Am I normal...? Is it okay if...?" Answering Student Questions About Sexual Health Register Here 

 

What's Abortion Got to Do with it? Connecting the Dots Between Sex Ed and Abortion 

November 14, 2023 (9:30 am-12:30 pm) 

Abortion is the topic of conversation in this new professional development training for educators and youth-serving professionals who teach sexuality education. This training has been developed in response to the overturning of Roe vs Wade in both anticipation of an increase in questions from young people about abortion, and recognition of the importance of having conversations about abortion when discussing sexuality. Young people deserve information about abortion, and they deserve open and honest learning spaces where that information can be shared and explored. This training will equip educators with skills to support young people in learning about abortion and the role abortion plays in sexual and reproductive healthcare. 

This training will take place on Zoom. 

What's Abortion Got to Do with it? Connecting the Dots Between Sex Ed and Abortion Register Here 

 

Working with Parents 

January 23, 2024 (9:30 am-12:30 pm) 

Designed for teachers, youth workers, and other professionals, this workshop recognizes the importance and necessity of partnering with parents and other caring adults in order to support and complement successful comprehensive sexuality education. Participants will develop specific strategies to engage parents in clarifying their values and creating ongoing conversations with young people so they can make informed choices about their own health and safety relating to sexuality. Get Real Educators will find this workshop a useful supplement to existing resources on getrealeducation.org. All participants will receive a resource packet and complimentary copy of “It's Perfectly Normal” by Robie Harris. 

This training will take place on Zoom. 
Working with Parents Register Here

Adolescent Brain Development + Social Emotional Learning in Sexuality Education  

May 17, 2023 (9:30 am-12:30 pm)

The brain is the largest sex organ – but how does it play a role in sexual decision making in young people, and how do we better understand how the adolescent brain works? Social Emotional Learning (SEL) has become a framework that many schools are utilizing in building not only academic achievements in students, but social and emotional achievements as well. Teaching SEL in the context of comprehensive sexuality education can help young people develop the understanding and skills needed to navigate healthy relationships and healthy sexuality throughout life. This training is for educators, youth-serving professionals, and anyone who interacts with young people on a regular basis looking for introductory information (this training is not led by a behavioral psychologist). The facilitator(s) will describe and explain the developmental differences between young people and adults, and how messages – especially as they pertain to sexual decision making and relationships – may be heard differently between young people and adults. Participants will be guided through different regions of the brain and brain functioning, theories of development, and examine SEL foundations and how to utilize core understandings to enhance their sexuality education classrooms. 

This training will take place on Zoom.

Adolescent Brain Development + Social Emotional Learning in Sexuality Education Register Here 

Get Real Trainings

Get Real Training of the Educator (TOE)

The Get Real Training Institute (GRTI) offers educators the Get Real Training of the Educator (TOE). The TOE provides an invaluable professional development experience for teachers implementing Get Real. This research-based approach includes participation in a 10–12-hour, self-guided online course followed by participation in a two-day, skill-building, training. In addition, teachers are provided two follow-up support sessions when they begin teaching Get Real in the classroom and receive ongoing online support through the special interactive Teacher Resources area of the Get Real website. This phased training approach helps ensure that teachers develop the necessary knowledge and skills to become competent and comfortable teaching comprehensive sexuality education with the goal of impacting student behavior. 

This year we are excited to be offering both virtual and in-person TOEs! For more information, please visit the Training & TA section of the Get Real website.  

Get Real Middle School TOEs

  • September 27-28, 2023 (9:30 am-4:00 pm) 
    Virtual Get Real Middle School Training of the Educator Register Here 
    This training is for people teaching the Get Real curriculum. Separate purchase is required at etr.org. Pre-work is required for this training. This training will take place on Zoom. 

  • February 14-15, 2024 (9:00 am-4:30 pm) 
    In-Person Get Real Middle School Training of the Educator Register Here 
    This training is for people teaching the Get Real curriculum. Separate purchase is required at etr.org. Pre-work is required for this training. 

Get Real High School TOEs 

  • October 25-26, 2023 (9:00 am-4:30 pm) 
    In-Person Get Real High School Training of the Educator Register Here 
    This training is for people teaching the Get Real curriculum. Separate purchase is required at etr.org. Pre-work is required for this training.
  • March 13-14, 2024 (9:30 am-4:00 pm)
    Virtual Get Real High School Training of the Educator Register Here 
    This training is for people teaching the Get Real curriculum. Separate purchase is required at etr.org. Pre-work is required for this training. This training will take place on Zoom.  

*Enrolling in a TOE requires prior purchase of the Get Real: Comprehensive Sex Education That Works curriculum. The curriculum is available physically or digitally in both English and Spanish and for either middle or high school students. It can be purchased from ETR here: https://www.etr.org/get-real/ 

 

Get Real Training of the Trainer (TOT)

The Get Real Training Institute also offers a Training of the Trainer (TOT). This training opportunity is open to those with advanced training skills who have successfully completed a PPLM-facilitated TOE since January 2020 and have implemented the curriculum in a classroom setting. The 4-day TOT is a high-level professional learning process that builds the knowledge and skills required of qualified trainers to provide Get Real Middle School TOEs and technical assistance/capacity-building assistance to adult learners who intend to implement Get Real. Registration applications are required, and all individuals will need to be approved before officially enrolling in this training. Additional pre-work will be required. 

For more information, please visit the Training & TA section of the Get Real website. Please email [email protected] with any questions and/or to request an application.

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