(SF)

Parents of students at the Ulster County BOCES Career and Technical Center left school Tuesday with a new understanding of gender transition, but many said it will take time to get used to calling the school's principal, Gary Suraci, Jenna from now on.

Suraci will undergo a gender change in the upcoming weeks while maintaining his post as the school's principal.

Suraci ran for Congress last year and is a nationally recognized principal. Some fear he will now only be defined by his gender change.

"The biggest issue seemed to be whether the person should stay in a position of authority in the school," parent Joe Acquisto said.

According to parents, on the first day of school, the principal will be known as Jenna and will dress like a woman even before the surgery will take place.

"This is a process of matching up the outside of themselves with the inside of themselves," a gender expert said.

No one answered the door Tuesday at Suraci's home.

His biography on a political Web site said he has three children and three grandchildren. It was not clear if he is married.

The superintendent of Ulster BOCES said Suraci's job is protected under state human rights and tenure laws.

Some parents said they are hopeful Suraci's sex change won't distract their children.

"Life happens," parent Carrie Baxter said. "If this happens in college, she'll know what to look for."

"I really think they will accept the whole situation," parent Tony Perry said.

The school's meeting Tuesday night was mainly to educate parents, but the students will get their own orientation at the beginning of school.

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