As a result of the enthusiastic response that we have received for this year's Safe Schools Conference, we have reached capacity and we are no longer able to accept registrations. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause.
We invite you to mark your calendar now for the 2009 Safe Schools Conference, May 4-6 , 2009 - Hilton Harrisburg.
The session descriptions below are provided for information only.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Institutes - 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Nine (9) full-day institutes will be held on this day. In addition, there will be a full-day training session entitled: "Internet Safety: Protecting Kids Online" for law enforcement officers.
A. Strengthening Families for Parents and Youth: 10-14
Lee Molgaard, Director of Training, Youth and Family Consulting of Ames, Ames, IA
This presentation will include information about specific risk and protective factors addressed in the Strengthening Families Program (SFP) and will show examples of how SFP has dramatically reduced youth substance use and aggressive behavior. Participants will view segments of SFP videotapes that show positive parent-youth interactions and peer pressure resistance skills. Selected activities and interactive projects will be demonstrated.
B. Violence Prevention: Building a Safer Community
Ivan Juzang, President, MEE Productions, Inc., Philadelphia, PA
Participants will review theories, actual practices, tips and techniques for developing effective communication strategies to reach young people. They will explore how urban youth actually perceive the messages conveyed to them; assess the variety of conflicting messages communicated to youth; and enable participants to understand media’s direct and indirect influence on youth. They will learn effective ways to reach out to and engage local youth and adults to promote violence prevention through a series of examples, group exercises and case studies.
C. Positive Behavioral Support Systems - Developing Effective School-wide Accountability Systems for Successful Student Behavior
Howard M. Knoff, Director, Project ACHIEVE, Little Rock, AR
Today’s positive behavioral support systems (PBSS) must focus on effective classroom instruction and successful student achievement. Six evidence-based PBSS components will be discussed: (a) social skills instruction; (b) school-wide accountability systems; (c) staff and student consistency; (d) creating safe school common areas, while addressing teasing, bullying, and physical fighting; (e) crisis prevention; and (f) home and community involvement. Practical strategies will be discussed linking PBSS and school improvement processes toward student and staff success.
D. “All Hazards” Comprehensive Planning for Pennsylvania Schools
Karen Borza, Community Services Supervisor, Pennsylvania State Police, Harrisburg, PA
Mike Hurley, School Services Officer, Carlisle School District, Carlisle, PA
Pam Weeks, State Citizen Corps Program Manager, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, Harrisburg, PA
Members of an interagency Safe Schools Planning committee will discuss the importance of “all-hazards” planning, the phases of a disaster/emergency, and how each phase needs to be addressed in school safety plans. Tools, resources and best practices from across the Commonwealth and nation will be presented. Participants will understand the importance of developing a comprehensive approach and effective partnerships in order to provide a safe and welcoming learning environment for students and staff.
E. “The Resolving Conflict Creatively Program: How to Create a Culturally Responsive Classroom”
Mary James Edwards, Program Consultant, Educators for Social Responsibility, Cambridge, MA
One of the most effective strategies for honoring diversity and building a caring/cohesive community within schools is to create culturally responsive classrooms. The purpose of this session is to explore the meaning of culturally responsive pedagogy and to explore what a culturally responsive classroom looks like, sounds like and feels like.
F. Bullying Prevention in the Schools: Getting Started
Jane Riese, Director of Training, Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, Clemson University, NC
This institute is designed for educators and community partners who are exploring how to prevent bullying behavior in the schools. The session will focus on the basics of bullying prevention and research findings regarding critical factors such as readiness and needs assessment to be considered before implementing a program. Practitioners from the field will share experiences and highlight best practices used both in the classroom and school-wide.
G. Responding to Trauma: An Overview of Effective Strategies and Lessons Learned
Victor Welzant, Director of Education and Training, International Critical Incident Stress Foundation. Inc., Ellicott City, MD
When trauma impacts a school, the results can range from resilience to crisis and disruption of the educational mission. This presentation will provide an overview of the impact of crisis in the schools, as well as provide participants with a strategic approach to needs assessment and crisis intervention. The recommendations will be based on evidence informed and best practice guidelines for trauma intervention. Principles for designing an effective response will be reviewed through a “lessons learned” approach. Participants are asked to bring their challenging questions and effective strategies to be used in the interactive exercises.
H. Incident Command and Management for Schools
Molly Eggleston, Associate Director for Workforce Development,
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Tony Subbio, Assistant Manager of Planning, Dauphin County Emergency Management Agency, Steelton, PA
The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) sent a notice to schools on February 23, 2006 that all schools must operate under the Incident Command System (ICS) as part of the National Incident Management System (NIMS). The purpose of this training is to orient school personnel to the ICS principles so that schools can more effectively interact with first responders during an incident involving the school community, and to satisfy any current or possible future requirement to complete the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) IS100 and IS700 courses. Participants will complete the actual FEMA courses and examinations in ICS and NIMS via instructor led power point slides and discussions. The presenters will provide exercise opportunities to apply the course information to school situations.
I. An Administrator’s Challenge: “Tough Kids – Tough Teachers” – Improving Student Behaviors Through Staff Collaboration
Jane Harris, Consultant, Safe & Civil Schools, Eugene, OR
This presentation is designed for administrators who want to improve school climate and culture. The focus of the training will be on assessing schools’ current behavior management approaches and looking at practical ideas for working with teachers who are struggling with tough students. This training is designed for administrators who want to develop a systematic approach to improve student behaviors in collaboration with their staff.
J. Internet Safety: Protecting Kids Online (For Law Enforcement Only)
Michael C. Bookser, Chief of Police, Bellevue Police Department, Pittsburgh, PA
This institute is only available for Pennsylvania sworn law enforcement officers. The “Protecting Kids Online” (PKO) program provides law enforcement officers with essential information and helpful tools to present on the impact of today’s technology in schools and communities. Online predators, cyber-bullying, social network sites and protecting personal information are just a few of the topics addressed in the PowerPoint presentations, which are included in the instructor kit. PKO certified officers are then eligible to request Internet safety educational resources for students and parents.