From 2017, Michaelle “Mickey” Pope tells Broward School Board Members how the District deals with transgender students. Pope spoke after the Broward transgender volleyball student addressed the Board. Pope retired in 2019.

Former Broward School Board Member Laurie Rich Levinson heaped praise upon Pope at the 2017 meeting. Pope, the chief of Student Support Initiatives, was the driving force behind the controversial “PROMISE” program.

Pope admitted the District aimed to protect civil rights and help students “live, work and learn in an environment that is safe and inclusive.”

When a transitioning student comes “forward,” Pope said her staff and their community partners “sit with school teams, the principals, the support staff and they get to understand the child, they get to understand the true work.”

Then, Pope asked the team assisting the other transgender ten year old to stand up and take a bow.