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 Private School Keeps Transgender Teacher On Staff We are committed to serving the Transgender community  August 31, 2007 DURHAM - For 12-years a band and music teacher named Leslie Webster has taught at the Duke School for Children - a private kindergarten through eighth grade school near the Duke University campus. Now Ms. Webster has become Mr. Webster and at least one parent of 9-year-old is very concerned.
"It should not be a topic of discussion, especially something as harsh as a gender change," concerned parent Jim Gossett said.
But this week, the school sent a letter home to parents saying teachers would discuss the sex change with students who were taught by Webster last year.
"Every so often a community has the opportunity to test its core values," school officials stated in the letter, "Duke School is now facing such a test."
 "I'm a parent of two children at the school. I think the school handled it exactly right." Erwin Chemerinsky, a law professor at Duke usually comments on the U.S. Constitution. Now he's speaking up for his children's transgender teacher.
"It used to be that schools made teachers leave the classroom when their pregnancy began to show. And it used to be said that children couldn't deal with gay and lesbian teachers. We look back at those things and it seems so anachronistic. Likewise, students and children can deal fine with transgender teachers. It's the person that matters in the classroom. Not the gender of the teacher," Chemerinsky said.
Other parents echo Chemerinsky's support of Leslie Webster, but some other parents like Jim Gossett says he's got some concerns. Gossett thinks the teacher should leave.
"I believe the teacher needs to resign from the position at Duke School and go about her way. If she wants to be a him, that's fine. Get it away from the children. Go find another job in the workplace and get away from the children," Gossett said.
At this point the Duke School for Children are keeping the teacher on staff.
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