Exceptional sexuality educators combine strong content knowledge with skilled facilitation, thoughtful reflection, and a commitment to creating inclusive learning environments where every young person feels respected, represented, and supported. Designed exclusively for Planned Parenthood affiliate educators, this comprehensive onboarding program prepares new sexuality educators to confidently deliver high-quality, evidence-informed sexuality education that reflects Planned Parenthood’s educational standards and values.
This 20-hour Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT) combines foundational content knowledge with intensive skill development through a cohort-based learning experience. Prior to the first live session, participants complete five self-paced Sex Education Foundations courses that build essential content knowledge in sexuality, anatomy and reproduction, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV, abstinence and contraception, and relationships and consent. During six live Zoom sessions, participants learn alongside a supportive cohort while engaging in facilitated discussions, collaborative activities, guided reflection, case studies, and real-world practice designed to strengthen facilitation skills and teaching confidence.
Throughout the training, participants develop practical strategies for facilitating medically accurate, shame-free, sex-positive, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and LGBTQ+ inclusive sexuality education. Topics include lesson planning and fidelity, creating psychologically safe learning environments, maintaining professional boundaries, responding to challenging questions and participant disclosures, recognizing and addressing bias, providing and receiving feedback, and facilitating meaningful conversations that honor the diverse identities, lived experiences, values, and communities of the young people they serve.
The course culminates in an immersive practice and coaching session using the Advocates for Youth Virtual Classroom, where participants facilitate sexuality education with AI-powered student avatars in realistic classroom scenarios. Guided by experienced Planned Parenthood sexuality educators, participants receive individualized coaching and feedback to strengthen their facilitation skills before leading programs in their own communities.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
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Apply the core principles, content, and facilitation practices that support exemplary sexuality education.
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Interpret lesson plans and facilitate lessons with fidelity while responding to the diverse strengths and needs of learners.
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Establish professional boundaries and determine when personal values or experiences may appropriately inform facilitation.
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Create psychologically safe, inclusive learning environments that promote learner engagement, participation, and trust.
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Provide and incorporate constructive feedback to strengthen professional facilitation practice.
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Recognize personal and systemic biases that can influence sexuality education and apply strategies to foster more equitable and inclusive learning experiences.
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Practice responding to participant disclosures with empathy, professionalism, and compassion while maintaining the integrity of the learning experience.
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Apply strategies to anticipate participant disclosures, manage personal stress responses, and return the group to the intended learning objectives.
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Demonstrate techniques for answering students’ questions using medically accurate, age-appropriate, unbiased, and nonjudgmental information that encourages continued curiosity and learning.
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Practice facilitation skills in realistic classroom scenarios using the Advocates for Youth Virtual Classroom and integrate coaching feedback to strengthen instructional practice.
Prerequisites
Participants complete the following Spark*ED Sex Education Foundations self-paced courses before beginning the first live session. These courses are included with registration.
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Teaching Sexuality & Answering Questions
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Teaching Sexual and Reproductive Anatomy
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Teaching Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) & HIV
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Abstinence & Contraception
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Teaching Relationships & Consent
