Webinar #8 - What Does the Light at the End of the Tunnel Look like for Schools?

As the nation begins a cautious discussion of how to emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, future planning for schools is a critical part of the conversation. In this timely, yet optimistic webinar, we'll discuss the important decisions that need to be made about education in a post-pandemic America. What lessons have we learned from the transformative experiences of the last few weeks, and how can both the negatives and positive inform our professional practice moving forward?

Online Academy webinars are totally free to attend, but there is a cost to receive proof of participation.

Each Online Academy webinar may count for 1 clock hour of professional development credit. Because state or local district requirements may vary, you will need to check with your own state or supervisory organization for specific requirements for CE credit.

Online Academy Webinars

Finally! A series of free professional development webinars that check all the boxes:

Did we mention they’re free?

School safety in general, and preventing violence in particular, are issues of critical importance to teachers, administrators, parents, and students, yet education-centered training, resources, and professional development are often unavailable - until now.

Join us for a free, uniquely educational opportunity to enhance your professional practice in the critical areas of crisis response, violence prevention, and school safety. Each practitioner-based, education-focused webinar will examine what we know to be true in regards to various school safety topics based on research and recent events, and will provide hands on best practice strategies and ideas for implementation in your classroom and school. 

Each Online Academy webinar may count for 1 clock hour of professional development credit. Because state or local district requirements may vary, you will need to check with your own state or supervisory organization for specific requirements for CE credit.

Webinar #8 - April 16, 2020

What Does the Light at the End of the Tunnel Look like for Schools?

As the nation begins a cautious discussion of how to emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, future planning for schools is a critical part of the conversation. In this timely, yet optimistic webinar, we'll discuss the important decisions that need to be made about education in a post-pandemic America. What lessons have we learned from the transformative experiences of the last few weeks, and how can both the negatives and positive inform our professional practice moving forward?

Webinar #7

The Impact and Implications of Technology and Social Media Use in Crisis Events 

Every educator knows the advantages and struggles of technology and social media during an “ordinary” school day. But what happens on that worst of days?  Using real examples and case studies, this webinar will examine the impact, implications, and consequences of student, staff, and parent use of these devices and platforms in the midst and aftermath of a crisis event.

Threat Assessment and Management for schools: What is it and how to get started

Webinar #6- February 20, 2020

Threat assessment management is what every concerned educator is looking for - a means to identify, assess, and manage individuals at risk for violence against themselves or others. So why is effective threat assessment not the norm in every school? We’ll examine what threat assessment management is - and what it is not- and discuss the critical requirements for successful, sustainable implementation in every school.

Looking Forward and Back Part 2

Webinar #5 - January 23, 2020

We started our webinar series in the fall with a review of the 2018-2019 school year. Now let’s get even more up to date by looking at the most current data on violence in schools for the fall of 2019. What’s happened so far this school year in school safety, threats, and violent incidents? What does it mean, and how can this knowledge help us keep students safe in the rest of the school year?

How Safe is My School? A Potentially Uncomfortable Self-Assessment

Webinar #4 - December 12, 2019

Now that the school year is almost half over, it’s time to take a critical look at the state of safety in your school.  In webinar #4, we’ll apply the concepts and strategies of the first three webinars - what we know to be true about violent threats and incidents, the ineffectiveness of some current school safety practices, and the effectiveness of violence prevention initiatives - to help you critically assess the level of safety in your school. Perhaps more importantly, we will center our discussion not just on identifying potential vulnerabilities, but on what to do about it by implementing effective strategies and approaches for mitigation.

The Softer Side of School Safety

Webinar #3 - November 14, 2019

In Webinar #3 we’ll examine under-utilized, but highly effective practices that prevent and/or minimize violence in schools. The importance of school climate and culture, and its impact on preventing violence, enhancing academic achievement, and increasing job satisfaction will be explored. We’ll also discuss specific strategies to build a relationship-based culture that allows schools to maximize disclosures, prevent violence, identify students at risk for violence, and provide effective, appropriate supports and interventions.

The Hypocrisy of School Safety

Webinar #2 - October 17, 2019

Our second webinar, which takes place on the eve of National Safe Schools Week, will take a critical look at some problematic elements of current school safety practices. We’ll examine the allocation of resources, training, and personnel when compared to the nature and severity of actual incidents. The ineffectiveness of a reacting rather than preventing, as well as approaching the work from purely a law enforcement or security perspective, (rather than an educational view), will be scrutinized and promises to provoke some lively discussion and reflection. Finally, we’ll examine the harsh “behind the scenes” realities of the billion dollar “security theater” industry and discuss how to take a more realistic, balanced approach to keeping our students safe.

Looking Forward and Back: A Review of the 2018-2019 Year in School Safety

Webinar #1 - September 19, 2019

The first webinar of the 2019-2020 school year looks both forward and back. We’ll start by reviewing the last school year in school safety through a discussion of ESSN’s newly released Violent Threats and Incidents in Schools report. Then we’ll look forward to the new school year to apply last year’s emerging trends and areas of concern to our educational and operational practices. Finally, we will discuss some of the unintended consequences of school security procedures, and more importantly, provide effective, easily-implemented strategies to keep our classrooms and schools safer.

…but can I get PD credit?

Each Online Academy webinar may count for 1 clock hour of professional development credit. Because state or local district requirements may vary, you will need to check with your own state or supervisory organization for specific requirements for CE credit.

All webinars are totally free to attend, but proof of participation is available for a small fee.