Breakout Session Offerings By STRAND
Legal Strand
(This strand provides legal awareness related to school safety)
Sarah Orman, Senior Attorney, Texas Association of School Boards
Session: Update on Bullying, Cyberbullying and Harassment
In light of changing technology and high profile cases of “bullycide,” educators must be increasingly skilled at learning to recognize and respond to signs that a student is being bullied, which can be difficult when the bullying goes online. In this session, a TASB attorney will discuss recent legal developments regarding a district’s duty to respond to bullying and cyberbullying and provide practical tips regarding steps that school districts can take to address the harmful impacts of cyberbullying.
Sarah Orman, Senior Attorney, Texas Association of School Boards
Session: Legal Issues in Serving Students' Mental Health Needs
Students do not leave their mental health needs at home, therefore educators need to know how to recognize and respond to signs of anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues that may impact students at school. At the same time, school employees need to be aware of laws regarding the right to consent to treatment, privacy, and other concerns that may arise in this delicate area. In this session, a TASB attorney will introduce the laws and district policies that apply to handling student mental health issues in schools, including counseling, confidentiality, and suicide prevention.
Rick Lambert, Attorney, Powell, Youngblood, & Taylor, LLP
Session: Threat Assessment in Action: Legal Issues
This presentation covers student discipline issues in relation to threat assessments within their school districts. This presentation will provide guidance as to how to implement intervention techniques and appropriate avenues for additional assessment and identification of students in special education/504 programs to ensure that appropriate interventions are implemented in these circumstances. The presentation will also include privacy issues arising in these circumstances.
Mallory Myers Vincent, Assistant Attorney General with the Office of the Attorney General of Texas and Kelly Kravitz, TEA
Session: It Happens in Your Hometown: Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking in Texas
This presentation will provide an introduction to human trafficking in Texas and will dispel common misconceptions about human trafficking. The audience will gain knowledge about the realities and red flags of human trafficking, highlighted by specific case examples. With this presentation, the audience will be able to identify various tools used by traffickers to lure and maintain victims and the risk factors for potential minor victims of human trafficking.
Ken Braggs, Attorney at Law, Walsh Gallegos and Richard Heflin, Consultant R10 Special Pops
Session: Legal Issues in the Threat Assessment Process
Learn how to assess student threats using decisive action and thoughtful decision making. Gain an understanding of the legal implications for schools and employees at each step in the threat assessment process. Discover how to prevent unnecessary complications and prolonged disputes arising from the school's response to student threats.
Facilities Strand
(This strand provides facility and operational awareness related to school safety)
Kenneth Hutchens, VLK Architects and Tyson Bennett, Asst. Superintendent, Sherman ISD
Session: Mental Health to Metal Detectors
Learn ways to create positive, safe and comfortable school environments, benefiting the mental health of students and staff. Discover some of the professional mental health organizations that provide resources and ways to approach the daily issues facing today's schools. Explore the processes and importance of working with first responders in the design of school campuses.
Melanie Moss, Emergency Mgmt. & School Security Consultant, Texas Association of School Boards
Session: Options and Opportunities for Reducing Risk
School-based incidents mark the need for viable solutions to minimize risks and mitigate emergencies. Educational institutions need options that will help create a safe, secure learning environment for students, faculty, and staff. This interactive presentation will discuss a variety of security methods such as metal detectors, clear backpacks, and biometric readers as well as simple mitigation strategies. Members will gain an understanding of safety and security resources that may help reduce or prevent the risks associated with school-based incidents and how to integrate these strategies into their emergency operations plan.
Dr. Andrea Fields, Assistant Superintendent of Operations, Vicki Mercado and Ricky Thomas, Duncanville ISD, Andre Brackens, Huckabee
Session: Facility Matters-The Facts, The Fit and the Focus!
Prevention starts here! A well-designed and constructed facility can serve as a physical deterrent to threats of safety to your students and staff. Listen and engage our team as they share their perspectives of the key components and implementation of state of the art safety and security design, hardware and technology for a newly constructed campus from the planning phase to end users and how these safety features serve as physical deterrents to threats.
Doug Williams, Superintendent Sunnyvale ISD, Michael Holmberg, WRA Architects
Session: Securing Flexible Learning Spaces
Discover how you can secure innovative spaces that feature collaboration areas and glass walls. Join us as we describe our journey and engage you in a collaborative discussion related to safety in the age of flexible learning spaces.
Ian Halperin, Executive Director of Communications & Community Relations, Wylie ISD, Chief Alan Bragg, Texas School Safety & Security Council, Director TSSSC, Ian Powell, Partner, PBK, Chris Everett, Engage2Learn, Culture Design Strategist
Session: Creating a Positive Campus Culture Through Safety and Security Best Practices
This presentation will present first-hand insight and perspective on the nature of school tragedy, as well as a comprehensive framework for implementing Best Practices on school safety, campus culture, and community awareness. A team of experts in District Administration, Law Enforcement, Built Environment, and Campus Culture will bring unique perspectives that must be considered to effectively implement Safety and Security measures to keep the students and faculty of your District safe.
Mental Health/Prevention Strand
(This strand provides mental health awareness related to school safety)
Sandra D. Benavidez Ed.D., Region 10 Counseling Consultant
Session: Safety Plans that Work: Handling Crisis with Consistency
This workshop will explore the key components in developing consistent crisis practices across a campus and district. Participants will look at examples of safety plans and crisis protocols that promote safety for all students. Get ideas to revamp your current practices or learn ways that Region 10 can support you in developing new systems.
Carly Posey, I Love You Guys Foundation
Session: Recovery in the Aftermath of Sandy Hook
Carly focuses on the recovery and mental health of her and her family. She shares how she and her husband are helping all of their four children, with different experiences on Dec. 14, 2012, recover and turn the negative events into life-long resiliency. She shares how they fostered relationships in their new community, and how that has been the number one help in her family’s recovery journey. Carly will also detail strategies for reunification.
Keya Saleh, Region 10 Consultant, Special Populations
Session: Crisis Response: Addressing the Needs of Students with Disabilities in the Planning Process
Planning for students in emergencies means planning for all students, including those with disabilities and special needs. Learn more about the challenges your students experience and how to integrate the diverse needs into your crisis planning process.
Amy Pool, Consultant for Culturally Responsive Instruction and Interagency Resources, Special Pops
Session: Trauma-Informed Care - An Overview of the Educational Impact of Trauma
Students who are disengaged, acting out, aggressive and shutting down seldom respond positively to discipline and punishment. In this session, participants will have the opportunity to explore trauma and the impact it has on our students' ability to focus, engage, behave and learn. We will share ideas for creating environments that develop a sense of safety and build trusting relationships for students who have experienced trauma.
Communications Strand
(This strand provides crisis response awareness related to school safety)
Melanie Moss, Emergency Mgmt. & School Security Consultant, Texas Association of School Boards
Session: Public Information and Schools: No Joint Information System is Complete
School emergencies create big headlines, so school crisis communication must be a part of all joint information activities. This workshop will look at school emergency communications including the need for coordinated messaging that includes the impact of social media and mass notification by and for schools, students and parents.
Grant Rampy, Chief Communications Officer, Region 10
Session: Preparing To Face The Media: You're In Control
The world is full of stories and you have one to tell. It may not always be a great story, but you're still going to have to tell it. When you do, make it on your terms. Learn how to keep control of an unfolding crisis that potentially pits you and your organization against broadcasters and social media activists. You can take the upper hand, shape the storyline, and turn a crisis into an opportunity.
Lee Joffe, Superintendent and Grant Rampy, Chief Communications Officer, Region 10
Session: Italy ISD Response to a Crisis
A drastic scene just occurred in your district. News cameras and reporters are swarming for the latest development you have to share with the public. What do you say? Come here this real-life story from those that know this experience very well. Lee Joffe and the Italy ISD Crisis Team will detail how they endured the school shooting in their high school and how their communication plan played an important role during this process.
Dr. Karyn Cummings, Assistant Superintendent Administrative Services, Mesquite ISD
Session: Lessons Learned from Real Situations
Mesquite ISD has unfortunately experienced a tragic bus accident and an active shooter threat. Both experiences have contributed to lessons learned. The team will share pathways through tragedy and situational responses.
Programs Strand
(This strand provides program awareness related to school safety)
John-Michael Keyes, I Love U Guys Foundation
Session: The Power of Reunification
Reunification is a gap in most school’s safety plan. John Michael will provide stages on the Standard Reunification Method created by The “I Love U Guys” Foundation.
Joe Haley, Corporal II, Texas Highway Patrol, Texas Department of Public Safety
Session: CRASE - Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events
The Civilian Response course is a direct-delivery course designed to provide first
responders and other professionals with a model response program geared toward Avoiding/Denying/Defending against threats. The expectation is that participants will return to their own communities and share this information creating a model response framework that civilians can retain and recall under stress which will save lives and reduce casualties during active shooter events.
Dr. Kristie Brown, Rees-Jones Trauma Center at Parkland, JPS Health Network
Session: Stop the Bleed: Bleeding Control Course
No matter how rapid the arrival of professional emergency responders, bystanders will always be first on the scene. This course teaches bystanders how to recognize life-threatening bleeding and be able to perform the appropriate steps to control bleeding until help arrives. Hands-on skill stations will teach practical skills required to control bleeding and increase confidence is providing lifesaving first aid.
Craig Miller, Police Chief, Dallas ISD
Session: School Marshal or Guardian
We all want our schools to be safe. In this session, we will explore the School Marshal as it relates to the Guardian Program. Also, we will talk about how they each work with law enforcement.
John Curnutt, Assistant Director, Texas State University - ALERRT Program
Session: Becoming Resilient
Developing resilience requires motivation, education and a support network. We will explore the realities associated with active attacks and discuss a menu of response options each person can choose from.
Jeff Murray, Protective Security Advisor, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security - Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
Session: An Introduction to the U.S. DHS K-12 Security Guide and Survey
K-12 School Security: A Guide for Preventing and Protecting against Gun Violence (2nd ed., 2018) provides preventive and protective measures to address the threat of gun violence in schools. The Guide is delivered in two parts: the first portion is a PDF with general security best practices and considerations in a narrative format; while the second portion is a Microsoft Excel-based security survey. Together, these documents outline action-oriented security practices and options for consideration based on the results of the individual school’s responses to the survey. While the primary audience for the Guide is the K-12 community, institutions of higher education or Pre-K schools may also benefit from the information presented.
Tom Kelley, School Safety Specialist, Texas School Safety Center
Session: Safety and Security Requirements for Texas Schools
Safety...Security...Audits... Oh My! Come participate in a discussion of requirements, best practices, current trends and legislation to improve safety in our schools.
