Mount Desert Island Hospital’s Women’s Health Center Advisory Committee, the College of the Atlantic and MDI High school have teamed up to welcome back Al Vernacchio, M.S.Ed., sexuality educator and consultant to the MDI community on Mar. 26.
Vernacchio is a high school English teacher and human sexuality educator at Friends Central School in Wynnewood, PA. He has more than 20 years experience teaching human sexuality at the high school and college level and for civic organizations. He has also published book chapters and lesson plans on sexuality-related issues.
Vernacchio earned his bachelor’s degree in theology from St. Joseph’s University in 1986 and his master’s degree in Human Sexuality Education from the University of Pennsylvania in 1993. He is a member of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS), The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) and Advanced Sexuality Educators and Trainers (ASET).
His positive, enthusiastic and often humorous approach to comprehensive sexuality education has made Vernacchio a popular speaker. In addition to his recent appearance as a presenter at the annual TED conference in California in early March 2012, Vernacchio’s work with youth, adults, and educators has brought him to the attention of the New York Times Magazine which profiled his class in the Nov. 20, 2011 cover story “Teaching Good Sex.”
This year, Vernacchio will share his expertise with three groups on Mount Desert Island: high school students, college students, and adults/parents/educators. He will be working with students enrolled in the wellness class at MDI High School and will give a lecture to the entire student body. He will also lead two evening lectures; one at MDI High School Auditorium and one at COA.
Everyone is invited to come and hear Vernacchio on Mar. 26 at MDI High School at 6:30 pm where he will deliver his lecture entitled “Helping Young People Create and Maintain Healthy Relationships” with the target audience being for parents, guardians and populations working with adolescents. Donations will be accepted at the door for those who are able.
For more information, contact the Women’s Health Center at 288-8100.