Transform your Approach to School Safety at the 2024 Raptor SchoolSAFE Conference
Welcome to this special edition of our newsletter dedicated to the 2024 Raptor SchoolSAFE Conference!
Specifically designed for individuals committed to protecting students, the 2024 SchoolSAFE Conference brings the top experts and industry leaders in school safety under one roof for collaborative discussions about school safety strategies addressing the complex challenges facing our schools today.
With over 60 small and interactive sessions, the conference offers topics such as:
Join us to not only enhance your current safety plans but to also find new inspirations that will transform your approach to protecting our school communities.
A Conversation with Laura Bush and Barbara Pierce Bush
We are pleased to announce our Keynote speakers, Mrs. Laura W. Bush and Barbara Pierce Bush, for the 2024 Raptor SchoolSAFE Conference. You won’t want to miss this must-attend moderated discussion at this year’s Raptor SchoolSAFE Conference.
The Future of BTA Panel with Dr. Randazzo
We are pleased to present Raptor Technologies’ Dr. Marisa Randazzo, Executive Director of Threat Assessment, and Melissa Reeves, Senior Threat Manager, and School Psychologist. This distinguished panel will provide comprehensive guidance on the evolving practices in Behavioral Threat Assessment (BTA), ensuring your school is at the forefront of prevention.
"At the 2024 Raptor SchoolSAFE Conference, I will be leading two sessions on Behavioral Threat Assessment (BTA). In 'The Future of BTA' session, I will share insights into the evolving practices of BTA, a fact-finding process that's recognized as the best available tool to prevent violence in schools. This session will equip you with the knowledge about current and future issues in BTA and practical solutions needed to elevate your school's safety measures. In the 'BTA Training & Guidance' session, I'll discuss how behavioral threat assessment is done in accordance with best practices, including using a multidisciplinary team involving school administrators, law enforcement, and school-based mental health professionals. It is absolutely possible to prevent these horrific tragedies in schools and colleges. You'll gain practical knowledge from empirical research and firsthand experiences. The tools, techniques, strategies, and resources we have can help someone who may be thinking about or planning to carry out a violent event at school or elsewhere. I hope you will join me for these important discussions.”
~ Dr. Marisa Randazzo, Executive Director of Threat Assessment, Raptor Technologies
For more details, visit: 2024 Raptor SchoolSAFE Conference
Featured Speakers
Beyond Lockdown: Best Practices for Safe and Successful Drills
Insights from subject matter experts who will share best practices for conducting safe and successful drills
Led by: Michele Gay, Safe & Sound Schools
Beyond the Bell: Best Practices for After School and Extracurricular Safety
Comprehensive school safety planning for after-school and extracurricular activities
Led by: Michele Gay, Paul Timm, Tad Roberts, Kevin Wren
Digital Dangers: Addressing Complex School Safety Challenges in the Digital Age
Panel presentation with experts to discuss challenges and solutions related to cyber safety, digital citizenship and data privacy
Led by: Michele Gay, Safe & Sound Schools & Kim Karr, #ICANHELP
Especially Safe: Ensuring the Safety of EVERYone in the School Community
A foundational understanding of "Especially Safe," a signature program of Safe and Sound Schools
Led by: Ben Fernandez & Michele Gay, Safe & Sound Schools
Recommended by LinkedIn
The Future of Behavioral Threat Assessment
A distinguished panel providing comprehensive guidance on the evolving practices in Behavioral Threat Assessment (BTA)
Led by: Dr. Marisa Randazzo, Dr. Melissa Reeves, David Okada
Gangs in our Schools: Recognizing, Responding, and Mitigating the Impact of Modern Gang Activity
Panel presentation with experts and practitioners discussing the current landscape of gang involvement in schools
Led by: Michele Gay, Safe & Sound Schools
How to Host Your Own Reunification Tabletops
Authoritative and practical guidance on hosting a reunification tabletop exercise within a school setting
Led by: Noemi Rocha, Raptor Technologies
Leading the Way: How School Safety Starts with Campus-level Leadership
Panel presentation featuring school leaders who have successfully implemented comprehensive safety strategies within their schools
Led by: Michele Gay, Safe & Sound Schools
Pathways for Prevention: A Multi-Tiered Systems Approach to Building Resilient School Communities
An introduction to Pathways for Prevention, a program designed to review the constructs of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)
Led by: Ben Fernandez & Michele Gay, Safe & Sound Schools
T-REx: "I Love U Guys" and Technology Double Session
Raptor and The “I Love U Guys” Foundation Host a Mini Together Reunification Exercise
Led by: Pat Hamilton, "I Love U Guys"
Grant funds are available for enhancing staff proficiency in school safety and student wellbeing. If your school has received such funding, it could help fund your attendance at the Raptor 2024 SchoolSAFE Conference.
Here are a few grants that have already awarded funds that may help your district attend this conference.
Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER)
One of the allowable expenses of ESSER includes increasing professional development opportunities for faculty, staff, and community partners, particularly around trauma-informed care and culturally and linguistically inclusive responses.
If your school has fully committed its ESSER funds yet discovers a more effective use for these resources, or finds it doesn't need all the previously allocated ARP ESSER or ARP EANS funds for the specified activity, it has the flexibility to redirect those funds to another approved activity. This reallocation must occur before the deadline on September 30, 2024.
Stronger Connections Grant Program
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), enacted in June 2022, directed Federal funds to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to enhance mental health services and support safer, more inclusive school environments through the Stronger Connections Grant Program (SCG).
This initiative awards funds to high-need local education agencies (LEAs) for training staff on various topics. Recipients of this grant can use these funds for training school staff on topics such as:
Because the individual states were responsible for defining "high-need" LEAs, further SCG information is available on your state’s Department of Education website.
We are thrilled about the upcoming 2024 Raptor School SAFE Conference and the opportunity it presents to advance school safety together. This event is a unique chance to gain critical insights, engage with experts, and enhance your safety protocols through over 60 interactive sessions focused on the most pressing safety issues schools face today.
Join us on Tuesday, November 5th, 2024, at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel in Fort Worth, TX, and be part of a community dedicated to creating safer learning environments. Don't miss out on invaluable knowledge, inspiring keynotes, and the opportunity to network with other passionate professionals.
Register now to secure your spot and take a significant step towards fortifying your school’s safety strategies. We look forward to seeing you there and working together to make our schools safer for everyone.