BROOKLINE, MA — On June 7 a Brookline principal announced to families that he is transgender. The Heath School's Asa Cain Sevelius is the first administrator to come out as transgender in the school district and may be one of the first in the country to do so publicly.

"Dear Heath Community, I am writing to all of you to share some powerful news about me... I am transgender," wrote Sevelius in an email home to families June 7. He went on to explain that it was because of his public role he made the decision to let the school community know about his transition. Superintendent Andrew Bott immediately threw his support behind the principal in a statement following Sevelius' email to Heath School families.

"I appreciate and deeply respect Dr. Sevelius. He is being open, courageous, and honest. As he wrote to families, his transition has come after many years, prolonged introspection, and careful and critical conversations with family and close friends. I fully agree with what Dr. Sevelius said in his letter to families -- the ability to live life openly and authentically will make him a stronger, more effective school leader," said Bott. Follow all things Brookline by signing up for news and alerts here.

Sevelius joined the Heath School team as vice principal in 2014 before taking over as interim principal the following year and permanent principal this year.

Sevelius has long been active in helping to support students in the district when it comes to issues of gender identity. He is part of a Gender Identity Leadership Group working at putting together district protocols and training sessions on how to support students who come forward asking teachers or the administration for support as they transition or question their gender.

Although officials at the office of the superintendent said they didn't keep track of the number of students coming forward in Brookline asking for support as they transitioned, anecdotally each school has students who identify as gender expansive or are questioning their gender.

In 2012 Massachusetts passed the Act Relative to Gender Identity, which prohibited schools from discriminating against transgender students.

Earlier this year district administrators and the School Committee made an announcement to the community that, regardless of gender identity, all students and staff should feel accepted in town after President Donald Trump indicated he would roll back some protections.

"The changes at the federal level have no impact or effect on our commitment to transgender students," said Bott on March 2. Sevelius did not immediately return request for comment, but in an early Twitter post it appeared community members were responding positively.